Mexico Faces Power Struggle as Politicians Are Constantly Murdered
Since Mexico’s election season was launched in September, at least 82 candidates and politicians have been murdered according to Reuters and security consulting firm Etellekt. . .
Given the power of Mexico’s drug cartels, it’s unsurprising that the victims of these assassinations come from an array of political parties. Experts believe that gangs are behind the killings in an effort to intimidate lawmakers — and further infiltrate the government with politicians who are corruptible and will show them favor.
Vincente Sanchez, a professor of public administration at the Colegio de la Frontera Norte in Tijuana told The Daily Mail: “Criminal gangs want to be sure that in the next government, they can maintain their power networks, which is why they are increasing attacks.”
Such slayings have become all too common in Mexico of late. After five politicians were killed within a week around the turn of the new year, the country’s president of the National Association of Mayors declared, “We have called on the president asking for an immediate meeting to implement a security protocol for mayors. The insecurity cannot continue this way in our country.” . . .
While short on resources, Mexican authorities have started to provide security for candidates. But Duncan Wood, director of the Mexico Institute at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars in Washington, said, “State and local authorities are outgunned and outmaneuvered and the federal forces cannot be everywhere. There is an urgent need…to provide greater protection and insulation against organized crime.” (Read more from “Mexico Faces Power Struggle as Politicians Are Constantly Murdered” HERE)
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