Bloody election campaign

Mayoral candidate stabbed to death in northern Mexico

(Bild: Crisanta Espinosa/EPA/picturedesk.com (Symbolbild))

The assassination of a mayor in northern Mexico adds to the number of politicians killed ahead of the national election in June. Noé Ramos was stabbed to death on the street after a campaign appearance in Ciudad Mante, according to the security authorities in the state of Tamaulipas, which borders the USA.

The assassination of a mayor in northern Mexico adds to the number of politicians killed ahead of the national election in June. Noé Ramos was stabbed to death on the street after an election campaign appearance in Ciudad Mante, according to the security authorities in the state of Tamaulipas, which borders the USA.

The politician from the conservative National Action Party had only started his campaign for re-election as mayor of the city a few days ago.

More than 20 politicians already killed
Around 21,000 posts will be filled in the upcoming election in Mexico, including the presidency and nine governorships. According to official figures, at least 15 politicians have already been killed in the Latin American country ahead of the important vote on June 2.

Drug cartels often behind the attacks
Ramos' party condemned the latest assassination and called for more protection for candidates in the current election campaign. The motives behind the murders usually remain unknown. The country's powerful drug cartels are often behind the attacks. However, knife attacks are unusual for the gangs.

For the first time, a woman is certain to emerge from the presidential election as head of state, as the two major party alliances are both running with female candidates. In the polls, Claudia Sheinbaum, the candidate of the left-wing government alliance around the Morena party, is in the lead. Former PAN senator Xóchitl Gálvez is running for the opposition's three-party alliance.