Mexican Mayor Killed Days After Taking Office, Renewing Security Concerns
The mayor of Chilpancingo, Mexico, Alejandro Arcos, was assassinated less than a week after taking office, marking the latest in a string of violent attacks targeting politicians in the country, CNN reports.
The killing comes just days after the city government’s secretary, Francisco Tapia, was shot dead, raising serious concerns about security in Mexico, a nation grappling with its most violent electoral cycle in history.
President Claudia Sheinbaum described Arcos’ death as “unfortunate” and announced that her security cabinet would provide a detailed explanation of the government’s security strategy on Tuesday.
“We will roll out the general strategy. We will work in some states with more presence, intelligence, and investigation in collaboration with the governors,” Sheinbaum said at her daily press conference.
Chilpancingo is the capital of Guerrero, a state notorious for violent crime, which also encompasses the popular tourist destination of Acapulco. Guerrero Governor Evelyn Salgado condemned the killing and vowed to bring the perpetrators to justice.
However, the violence against Mexican politicians extends far beyond Guerrero, as evidenced by the June 2 election that saw Sheinbaum rise to power. With 20,000 electoral positions up for grabs, the scale of bloodshed committed by criminal organizations seeking to influence the vote was unprecedented.
During the campaign season, at least 34 political candidates were assassinated by criminal organizations. The violence continued even after the election, with the mayor of a town in western Mexico being shot dead just hours after Sheinbaum’s victory.
According to Integralia Consultants, criminal organizations in Mexico focus their politically motivated attacks at the municipal level because mayors, through their links with law enforcement and local economies, can offer them impunity.
The report highlights how criminal gangs often finance campaigns during election season, using intimidation tactics against candidates and employing violence to coerce politicians into cooperation.
