Ahead of Mexico’s upcoming elections on June 2, the country has faced the brutal reality of violence in politics as yet another candidate, Jorge Huerta Cabrera, was shot dead during a political rally in Izucar de Matamoros. This tragic incident adds to the growing number of murdered candidates in what is being called Mexico’s most violent election cycle on record.
The attack not only resulted in Cabrera’s death but also left his wife and a colleague injured, highlighting the dangerous environment candidates are facing. The violence has escalated to a point where security consultancy Integralia has reported 37 assassinations of candidates in the current election season, surpassing the numbers from the previous midterm election.
The rampant violence has become a central issue in the presidential contest, with the governing party facing scrutiny over the high murder rate. Claudia Sheinbaum is expected to win the presidency, but the challenge of tackling cartel violence looms large for the future leader of Mexico.
Violence tops election agenda
The prevalence of violence in politics has raised concerns about the safety of candidates and the integrity of the electoral process. While the government provides security guards to hundreds of candidates and officials, the underlying issue of corruption and organized crime remains a pervasive threat to Mexico’s democracy.