Two candidates were killed, six more were attacked and one was abducted, just one week after polling day on 6 June.
The most recent case was that of Cipriano Villanueva, 65, candidate for the municipality of Acapetahua, Chiapas, for the state party Chiapas Unido.
His body was found on a road near the municipality, lying on a retaining wall, according to a police report.
Three days earlier, Alma Rosa Barragán, candidate for mayor of Moroleón, Guanajuato, by Citizen Movement, was shot dead at a rally, in which two other people were also injured.
On May 25, in the municipality of Villa Jiménez, Michoacán, Omar Plancarte Hernández, candidate for the municipal presidency of Uruapan by the Green Party, was deprived of freedom by armed subjects.
Although a research folder and search operation were started on the entity, the applicant has not been located.
Later, an armed attack occurred against the candidate by the PRI for the municipal presidency of San Fernando, Tamaulipas, Jesús Arturo Galván García.
The candidate appreciated the show of support and said he would continue his campaign events as normal.
By the morning of May 26, Fuerza Por México’s candidate for the mayor of Acapulco, José Alberto Alonso Gutiérrez, had already received a gunshot attack on the Costera Vieja, in the tourist area of the port.
The attack occurred at the height of a sports club while traveling in his van with his escort after leaving his home to head to a campaign event.
Public Security Secretary David Portillo Menchaca reported on Friday that a total of 46 candidates are already protected by the State Police and Ministerial Police after requesting security measures.
On Monday, May 24, Morena’s candidate and licensed mayor of Jilotepec, State of Mexico, Agustín Bonilla, survived a gunshot attack while driving his van: the next day he participated in the public debate organized by the local electoral institute.
Thus he recriminate #Morena candidate for the municipal presidency of #Jilotepec, an alleged attack he was a victim of this afternoon aboard his van. Learn more at https://t.co/T1f9sNePDC pic.twitter.com/CXwgwVTbLF
— Today State of Mexico (@HoyEstado) May 25, 2021
Three more assaults were recorded on 27 May, an attack on the candidate for local deputy by the XXII district, Saraí Figueroa Ramírez, who was assaulted while conducting a campaign event, in the municipality of Acámbaro, by the Green Party.
While in the municipality of Yecapixtla, Morelos, armed subjects attacked Victor Hugo Bobadilla, the PT’s candidate for a local council in Morelos, who was driving on the local Achichipico road when two men on a motorcycle fired seven times at him, then fled the site.
In the evening, Francisco Cortés Pancoatl, candidate for the mayor of Santa Clara Ocoyucan, Puebla, by Morena, PT and the local social integration pact (PSI), was shot dead in the town of Chalchihuapan. The candidate is stable and alone with a hand wound.
Just on the night of 28 May, the leader of the Green Party in Quintana Roo, Pablo Bustamante, denounced an attack on the candidate in Puerto Morelos, Blanca Merari.
A few moments ago, our candidate’s house in Puerto Morelos, Blanca Merari, located in Leona Vicar, was the target of an attack. We fail the facts and any acts of violence against our representatives in the electoral contest and militants of our party.
— Pablo Bustamante (@PabloBvstamante) May 29, 2021
Recently, Pablo Lemus, candidate of citizen movement to the mayor of Guadalajara, Jalisco, denounced death threats that came through WhatsApp messages to his phone, as well as that of his wife, children and close friends.
I want to make public that yesterday I received death threats through WhatsApp messages to my number, that of my wife, my children and close friends.
I’ve already filed the corresponding complaint with the State Prosecutor’s Office. pic.twitter.com/dVXMLfQk2N
— Pablo Lemus Navarro (@PabloLemusN) May 28, 2021
According to the Etellekt agency, so far 89 politicians are killed in the current electoral process, of which 35 were aspiring and candidates.
Indicator of Political Violence @etellekt_ Update: With the assassination of Cipriano Villanueva, candidate for ruler by Chiapas Unido, in #Acapetahua, Chiapas, there are 89 politicians killed in #Elecciones2021MX (35 of them were candidates and candidates for elective posts). pic.twitter.com/5r9kjrrvqO
— Etellekt Consultants (@etellekt_) May 28, 2021
Veracruz, Guanajuato and Guerrero concentrate the most cases, according to the consultant.
Just on 21 May, the Secretariat of Security and Citizen Protection reported the results of the candidate protection programme.
The head of the unit, Rosa Icela Rodríguez, detailed that until that day 398 cases of candidates (226 men and 172 women) had been dealt with for assault or threats, of which 148 already have a research folder and 250 are complaints.
Of the total cases, the official added, 187 candidates have received threats and 101 have had some kind of aggression.
What we do at Animal Politics requires professional journalists, teamwork, dialogue with readers and something very important: independence. You can help us keep going. Be part of the team.
Subscribe to Political Animal, receive benefits and support free journalism #YoSoyAnimal.
