Violent Start to Mexico's Crucial 2024 Elections
Electoral Violence Claims Another Candidate
In a tragic event accentuating the heightened tension in Mexico's 2024 elections, Israel Delgado Vega, the ruling party's candidate for trustee of Cuitzeo in Michoacán, was assassinated just hours before voting began. Delgado, 35, was a candidate from the coalition supporting President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, comprising the Labor Party (PT), National Regeneration Movement (Morena), and the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM). The murder occurred outside his home as he was shot by two men from a motorcycle using a caliber assault rifle.
The incident reflects the broader pattern of violence during this electoral season. Mexico has reported 36 assassinated candidates or potential candidates between September 2023 and May 2024. Michoacán itself has seen nine pre-candidates, candidates, or public officials murdered and three kidnapped during the current electoral process. The National Electoral Institute (INE) has announced that 84 polling centers in Michoacán will not open due to security concerns.
Federal Measures and Nationwide Voting
In response to the violence, the Mexican government's security cabinet has implemented extensive monitoring measures. Over 259,000 armed forces personnel are deployed to ensure voter safety. However, violent disruptions persist, leading to the closure of at least 222 polling stations nationwide. Chiapas, with 108 closures, is the most affected, followed by Michoacán and other states including Oaxaca, Nuevo León, and Guanajuato.
More than 98 million Mexicans are eligible to vote in what is described as the largest election in the country’s history, involving 20,708 public positions, including the presidency, 128 senatorships, 500 federal deputies, and many local offices. The leading candidates for president are Claudia Sheinbaum of Morena's progressive agenda, and Xóchitl Gálvez, representing the conservative platform made up of PAN, PRI, and PRD.
Additionally, the electoral process will be observed by a delegation from the Puebla Group, including former high-ranking officials from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, and other nations, ensuring transparency in the largest election in Mexican history.
- The 2024 general elections in Mexico have seen an unprecedented level of violence, with candidate assassinations and polling station closures reflecting a deeply troubled political landscape. This violence is intertwined with the ongoing issues of organized crime and fuel theft ('huachicol') in various regions, including Michoacán.
- The federal government has emphasized its commitment to voter safety, yet the challenges remain significant. The involvement of international observers indicates the global interest in how Mexico navigates these contentious elections, with significant implications for the country's democratic stability.
