Bertha Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez, candidate for mayor of the Mexican municipality of Celaya, She was killed amid a wave of violence against politicians local during the election season.
The brutal attack was recorded and the sound of gunfire caused confusion. It all happened on Monday afternoon in the community of San Miguel Octopan, located 10 kilometers from the capital of Celaya, Guanajuato.
Gaytán Gutiérrez, candidate for mayor of Celaya, in the central Mexican state of Guanajuato, was there and he was leading his first electoral rally. The central axis of the event was, precisely, present their proposals on the topic of public safety.
On the contrary, armed individuals came to shoot him on several occasions. Gutiérrez died on the spot, while three other people were injured during the attack.
Alma Alcaraz, candidate for the government of Guanajuato for the Morena party – the same as Gutiérrez – expressed dismay during a meeting with supporters: “They just murdered our candidate from Celaya for Morena, Gisela Gaytán. This is something that makes us angry , shock, mourning. We will suspend campaign activities.”
For his part, the governor of Guanajuato, Diego Sinhue, of the conservative PAN, stated on the social network X that “the attack against Gaytán will not go unpunished”. He added that the state government will coordinate efforts in this regard Applicants for any position have protection from the authorities.
An expert services agent inspects the place where Bertha Gisela Gaytán Gutiérrez was murdered. Photo: EFEThe candidate had begun her proselytizing activity this Monday with a press conference, since the electoral campaign in Guanajuato only began on Sunday.
In the meeting with the media, Gaytán said that his party had requested protection for the campaign.
“It is a sad day. I want to send a very affectionate hug, solidarity and my condolences to the family of Bertha Gisela,” President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said at a news conference.
A campaign against armed violence
Just last Sunday, the candidate for federal representative of the Citizens’ Movement party, Alda Pacheco Juárez, reported having been the victim of an attack while traveling on the road that connects the municipalities of Cortázar and Jaral del Progreso, also in Guanajuato. However, there were no shots fired or injuries.
Celaya is the third most populated city in Guanajuato and is located in the area known as Laja Bajío, one of the most violent in the state and the country.
The city is governed by Javier Mendoza Márquez, of the National Action Party, whose son was assassinated in 2022; Even so, he seeks re-election for the same party.
The organized crime-related violence affecting Mexico is reaching politicians from several political parties, especially those who hold or aspire to hold municipal and state offices.
The reasons range from mafia attempts to subjugate candidates to disputes between local power groups.
Just on Saturday night, a commando assassinated Guillermo Torres, mayor of the municipality of Churumuco, in the state of Michoacán (west).
On March 23, the candidate for mayor of Acatzingo, in the central state of Puebla, Jaime Gonzálezhe was also shot dead.
In mid-March, Humberto Amezcua, seeking re-election as head of the municipality of Pihuamo in the western state of Jalisco, was killed by gunmen.
A few days earlier, Tomás Morales, pre-candidate for mayor of Chilapa, in the state of Guerrero (southern), had been killed.
From June 4, 2023 to March 26, 2024, 50 people were killed in “episodes of electoral violence”, of which 26 were seeking a popularly elected position, the consultancy Electoral Laboratory said in its latest report.
Presidential elections will be held in Mexico on June 2, in which Congress and dozens of local offices will also be renewed.
Source: Clarin
Mary Ortiz is a seasoned journalist with a passion for world events. As a writer for News Rebeat, she brings a fresh perspective to the latest global happenings and provides in-depth coverage that offers a deeper understanding of the world around us.