Guadalajara’s most well-known clown, Lagrimita, has registered as an independent candidate for city mayor, while his son and sidekick, Costel, will stand for councillor.
“It might seem like I’m clowning around,” said Lagrimita, whose real name is Guillermo Cienfuegos Perez. “But the real clowns are the ones who are governing us right now.”
The performer needs signatures from 28,887 people (about two percent of the electorate) to enter the ballot for the mayoral elections on July 7. The electoral institute’s decision to allow independents to run has led to 26 requests from aspiring candidates.
Lagrimita, now an all-round entertainer, began in the circus but made his name through appearances on local television shows.