Mexico: Pre-election violence kills over 30 politicians

Event

Pre-election violence in Mexican has resulted in at least thirty politicians, including candidates for the upcoming election, being killed between September 2017 and February 2018. Candidates from different political parties have been targeted, many residing in regions where organized criminal organizations hold significant influence. Violence has been a central issue in the 2018 presidential elections as there were an estimated 29,168 homicides nationwide in 2017, a 27 percent increase from 2016, and Mexico’s deadliest year in the past two decades. Further election-related violence is anticipated leading up to the July 1 elections.

Context

Presidential and legislative elections will be held throughout the country on July 1 with the campaign period ending on June 27. Over 50 million Mexicans are eligible to head to the polls to elect candidates for various posts, including the president, 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies, 128 senators, and state and local offices in 30 of Mexico’s 32 states.

Advice

Individuals are advised to avoid all demonstrations and political rallies due to the risk of violence or other unrest, to keep abreast of the situation, and to avoid politically sensitive discussions in public.

Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to a large portion of Mexican territory, including Colima, Guerrero, Michoacán, Sinaloa, and Tamaulipas states, the northeastern border with the US, and, to a lesser extent, Baja California, Chihuahua, Durango, Jalisco, Nayarit, Nuevo León, and Veracruz states.