Guarded by a team of police officers armed with rifles, Ramiro Solorio, a local political candidate in Mexico, campaigns for mayor of Acapulco amidst a wave of political violence that has plagued the country ahead of the June 2 national elections. Solorio’s situation is not unique; many candidates feel compelled to campaign with armed guards or in armored vehicles due to the high risk of violence and assassination.
The state of Guerrero, where Acapulco is located, has seen the highest number of candidate killings in Mexico, with six fatalities. Across the country, 34 candidates or aspiring candidates have been assassinated from September to May, a trend largely attributed to drug cartels seeking to influence local elections.
Despite the violence, candidates like Solorio continue to campaign, with security and anti-corruption as core issues. Solorio, also known as “El Brother” for his lucha libre mask, pledges to crack down on crime and corruption if elected.
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s administration has been criticized for failing to improve Mexico’s security situation. While Lopez Obrador cites a 5% decrease in homicides last year, murders still remain high, with more deaths occurring during his presidency than any other in modern Mexican history.
The violence has led to dozens of candidates withdrawing from the elections, raising concerns about the functioning of democracy in certain states. In Tumbiscatio, Michoacan, authorities have deemed the town unsafe to host a voting booth, forcing voters to travel to neighboring towns to cast their ballots.
Security experts warn that organized crime groups are effectively choosing local officials by threatening or assassinating those they oppose. Despite the government’s efforts to provide security protection to at-risk candidates, only a fraction of those running for political posts receive such protection.
As Solorio and other candidates campaign amidst the threats, the future of democracy in Mexico hangs in the balance, with the specter of violence casting a shadow over the upcoming elections.
