The slaying of a mayoral candidate in the violence-stricken state of Guanajuato this week took the number of candidates murdered during Mexico’s current electoral cycle to 34.
Alma Barragan of the Moviemiento Ciudadano (MC) party was shot to death as she campaigned in the municipality of Moroleon Tuesday. Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said the killing, like many others, was the work of criminal organizations that are trying to promote abstentionism. Political analysts say the gangs want to place politicians in office who can be easily extorted and manipulated, thus permitting them to engage in their criminal activities with impunity.