Fifteen registered political candidates running for various positions in the Mexican government have been assassinated over the past 12 months, according to a study released Tuesday.
In addition to the 15 registered candidates, another 28 candidates who had not yet filed papers to formally run for elected office have been killed since last June, reported Etellekt, a risk analysis consulting group.
The report comes two weeks before Mexicans vote in presidential, congressional, state, and local elections.
“Fifty relatives of political actors have been assassinated in the same period. The list of politicians under threat raises to 132,” according to a translation of Etellekt’s announcement.
Tras la muerte de la candidata del PRI a regiduría en Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo, aumenta a 113 la cifra de políticos asesinados, 15 de ellos candidatas y candidatos. Indicador de Violencia Política de @etellekt_ (Junio 12, 2018). #EleccionesenMexico2018 #FelizMartes pic.twitter.com/CfsvXD9YNc
— Etellekt (@etellekt_) June 12, 2018
Another 413 threats against politicians in the country’s 31 regions and 268 towns have been reported.
Congressional candidate Fernando Puron became the latest victim last Friday when he was fatally shot in the back of the head while posing for a photo following a debate with his rival. Less than an hour earlier, Puron, the former mayor of Piedras Negras, had vowed to fight organized crime and not be “in cahoots with criminals.”
In July, three women running for office were murdered in a 24-hour time span.
The control and influence drug cartels have over politicians in Mexico has been well-documented. Last year, the Mexican government announced a record-high number of homicides — 11 years into its military-style crackdown on organized crime.
