A framed photo of Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez, candidate for the ruling party Morena who was running for mayor of Celaya, Mexico, is seen during her funeral Mass April 3, 2024, at Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Celaya in the state of Guanajuato, northwest of Mexico City. She was killed April 1 by unknown assailants. (OSV News photo/Juan Moreno, Reuters)
MEXICO CITY (OSV News) — In an endless cycle of violence, the bishop of Orizaba, traveling with a group of priests, suffered an assault on a highway in the border area between Puebla and Veracruz, the
Mexican bishops’ conference said April 6. The group was robbed but unharmed.
The incident comes however in the middle of what is shaping up to be the deadliest election cycle in Mexico’s history, with 29 political candidates killed in the run-up to the June 2 elections.
Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez aspired to become mayor of a violent Mexican municipality, where drug cartels dispute the stolen gasoline trade.
But the mayoral candidate for the ruling Morena party was shot dead as she prepared for one of her first campaign events near the central city of Celaya.
Cartel violence against politicians
Continued below.
In an endless cycle of violence, the bishop of Orizaba, traveling with a group of priests, suffered an assault on a highway in the border area between Puebla and Veracruz, the Mexican bishops' conference said April 6. The group was robbed but unharmed.The incident comes however in the middle of...
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Well, Mexico has become dangerous over the past few decades, hence why my parents and I have not gone since 2009 or so. Hopefully these cartels can be shut down. My prayers for Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez.
Here is a summary of the article, for those who want the cartels to be shut down forever:
The article by David Agren, published on April 8, 2024, reports on the ongoing violence and insecurity in Mexico during its election cycle. The article begins by detailing an assault on Bishop Eduardo Cervantes Merino of Orizaba, who was traveling with a group of priests and suffered an armed robbery along a highway in the border area between Puebla and Veracruz. This incident comes amidst the deadliest election cycle in Mexico's history, with 29 political candidates having been killed since September 2023.
One of these victims was Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez, a mayoral candidate for the ruling Morena party in a violent municipality where drug cartels dispute the stolen gasoline trade. Her killing shocked Mexico, particularly Celaya, which has experienced high levels of violence and crime. The funeral for Gaytán was emotional, with Father Padre César Cadavieco condemning the criminals responsible and praying that their bloodline would be cursed.
The article highlights the rising political violence in Mexico, with Integralia Consultores reporting at least 300 incidents since September 2023 and 29 political candidates killed. The attacks often go unsolved, and the consequences for Mexico's democracy are significant as criminal groups attempt to influence politics by putting their own people into office.
Church leaders have sounded the alarm on this phenomenon and called for peace, urging voters to participate in the June 2, 2024 elections and warning against criminal intervention. The Mexican bishops' conference released a proposal for pacifying the country called National Agenda for Peace, which all three presidential candidates signed on March 11 of this year.
Drug cartels increasingly covet municipal governments to control territory and access local treasuries, police, and public works contracts. Analysts warn that elections are a golden opportunity for criminal groups to gain access to state institutions, creating a significant challenge for candidates who may find themselves between a rock and a hard place.
Retired Bishop Salvador Rangel of Chilpancingo-Chilapa previously negotiated a deal with drug cartels to stop the killing of candidates in 2021. However, interference from drug cartels in campaigns continues to worsen, and Bishop Rangel believes that the majority of political positions are now being held by drug traffickers.
The article concludes with a statement from the Mexican bishops' conference, expressing deep concern over the ongoing insecurity and urging authorities to take action to ensure safe travel on highways and protect the democratic process.
