- Over 126 Mexican politicians and candidates for office have been assassinated in the past seven months.
- Mexicans go to the polls on June 6 to elect 500 lawmakers, 15 governors and over 20,000 local officials.
- The majority of politicians assassinated were members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which was in power on and off between 1930 and 2000.
MEXICO CITY, Mexico: As over 126 Mexican politicians and candidates for office have been assassinated in the past seven months, officials fear even more violence will occur prior to the midterm national elections.
Mexicans go to the polls on June 6 to elect 500 lawmakers, 15 governors and over 20,000 local officials.
“So far, the number of these crimes is lower than that registered in the 2018 elections, but it is increasing,” said Ruben Salazar, director of the Etellekt consultancy, as reported by Reuters.
“In March alone, one politician has been assassinated per day. If this rate continues, it could be the most violent elections since the Mexican Revolution,” the armed conflict occurring between 1910 and 1917.
Salazar noted that the majority of assassinated politicians were members of the Institutional Revolutionary Party, or PRI, which was in power off and on between 1930 and 2000.
An analysis of the violence shows attacks against politicians have increased by 4 percent, compared with the 2018 presidential elections. Violence against politicians took the form of kidnappings, robbery, violence and threats.
The head of the Security Ministry, Rosa Rodriguez, said this week that a plan to protect candidates has been drawn up.
The plan, she said, includes procedures for law enforcement officials to act, based upon the level of political violence, frequency of crimes and impact on the electoral process.
