The killings of Noe Ramos Feletis in Tamaulipas and Alberto García in Oaxaca bring to 17 the number of candidates killed ahead of the June 2 vote.
Two mayoral candidates were found dead in Mexico on Sunday, adding to the number of candidates killed in what is shaping up to be the most violent election in the country's history.
The deaths reported across the country on Friday bring to 17 the number of candidates who have died ahead of the June 2 presidential, parliamentary and local votes.
In the northern state of Tamaulipas, authorities announced they had launched a search for the killer of candidate Noe Ramos Feletis. He was seeking re-election as mayor of Ciudad Mante in a coalition government between the opposition People's Action Party and the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI).
Local media reported that a man had been stabbed and published photos of his bloody body lying on the pavement.
“We will not allow violence to decide this election,” PRI leader Alejandro Moreno wrote on social media, acknowledging the “despicable assassination” of Ramos Feretis.
The second candidate killed, Alberto Garcia, was found dead a day after he was reported missing. He was running for mayor of San Jose Independencia, in the southern state of Oaxaca.
The state Board of Elections condemned the death of Garcia, who went missing along with the wife of the current San Jose Independencia mayor and was found alive. The committee called Garcia's death a “murder” and said such crimes “should not occur during an election.”
candidate's bodyguard
Organized crime-related violence in Mexico has long killed politicians from various political parties, especially those holding or seeking regional positions.
Drug cartels have frequently carried out such assassination attempts to control local police and extort money from local governments.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said in early April that cartels often try to decide who becomes mayor by fielding their own candidates or eliminating potential rivals. Admitted.
“They make a deal and say, 'This person is going to be mayor, this person is going to be mayor.' We don't want anyone else to register to run.” Anyone who signs up, well, they know. [what to expect],” He said.
Recent killings have prompted the government to send bodyguards to around 250 candidates, but candidates running for local government jobs most at risk are last in line for security. It is placed in
Earlier this month, candidate Berta Gaytan was shot dead on the first day of campaigning. She was running for mayor of Celaya, a city in the north-central state of Guanajuato.
Also in April, the mayor of Churumco, a town in the western state of Michoacán, was shot dead at a taco restaurant in Morelia, the state capital.
In late February, two mayoral candidates were shot dead within hours of each other in different towns in Michoacán state.