Mexico president mourns killing of two local candidates ahead of general elections

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, on Tuesday (Apr 2) said that he was saddened by the killing of a mayoral and a city council candidate in the city of Celaya. The killings come ahead of the country’s general elections which have been marred by violence.

About the fatal shooting in Celaya

Bertha Gisela Gaytán, a mayoral candidate for Celaya, was killed in a shooting on Monday (Apr 1) hours after she requested protection, while city council candidate Adrián Guerrero, who was wounded during the same attack, died the next day.

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Gaytán and Guerrero were campaigning in the community of San Miguel Octopan, said the Guanajuato state prosecutor’s office. The mayoral candidate’s death has been described by the authorities as assassination.

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The city council candidate was among the three people who were wounded during the attack. He later succumbed to his injuries, Mexico’s Secretary of Federal Public Security Rosa Icela Rodríguez confirmed on Tuesday.

The duo was attacked on a street in a town just outside the city of Celaya, Guanajuato. The mayoral candidate had just launched her campaign and acknowledged she had asked for protection.

“Assistance has already been requested through the state legal system in the party. We are looking at this issue, to see how it is resolved,” the mayoral candidate told a political rally shortly before the attack.

Gaytán was campaigning for Obrador’s political party and shouting its name “Morena!,” as she was walking down the street when gunshots were heard before she fell on the pavement, reported the Associated Press citing a video of the incident on social media.

The footage also shows people running and falling down. Guerrero was part of a small group that was walking with Gaytán.

‘Very regrettable’

At least 15 candidates have been killed since the beginning of this year and months ahead of the upcoming June 2 general election in Mexico.

These incidents have prompted the government to provide bodyguards or bulletproof cars for candidates. However, candidates for municipal positions who are most in danger are often last in line for security, reported AP.

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“These events are very regrettable because they are people who are fighting to assert democracy, who are in the streets, showing their faces, fighting for others and it hurts a lot that this happens in our country,” said Obrador, on Tuesday.

No one has claimed responsibility for Monday’s attack but Mexico’s drug cartels are typically involved in assassination attempts on mayors and mayoral candidates.

Rodríguez, on Tuesday, said the government is committed to respond to protection requests within 72 hours. More than 100 candidates nationwide have asked for protection, she said.

Guanajuato has recently witnessed the highest number of homicides of any state in Mexico, with Celaya arguably being the most dangerous place.

More than 100 million Mexicans will head to the polls to vote in a general election to choose 20,375 people for local and federal offices, as well as the presidency.

(With inputs from agencies)