A yet-be-identified gunman has shot down an aspiring mayor during a rally on Wednesday in southern Mexico. A bloody conclusion to the election campaign that is expected to vote in its first female woman president this weekend.
According to official reports, over 20 candidates running for local office have been killed during what has been termed a ‘gruesome and violent election season’ in the Latin American nation.
The latest victim of this attack was Alfredo Cabrera, a mayoral candidate for an opposition coalition. He had been shot in the southern state of Guerrero, inciting chaos and panic among residents who attended the rally.
Barring a unforeseen circumstances, a woman will most likely emerge the elected leader of Mexico, come Sunday.
“We’re going to make history,” a ruling-party candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, who is currently topping in polls, had told the cheering crowd at her closing campaign rally, which held at Mexico City’s main square.
Meanwhile, the opposition presidential candidate, Xochitl Galvez, also aged 61, had promised her supporters a tougher approach to dealing with drug cartel-related clashes at her closing rally which held in the northern city of Monterrey.
These two women leading Mexico’s presidential race had earlier in May, clashed on issues of corruption, gender-based violence and healthcare during a heated debate that was followed by verbal attacks on their person.
According to a poll average from Oraclukus, —a research firm, the leading candidate, Sheinbaum, a former Mexico City mayor and a scientist is topping with 53% of voter support.
Over 100 million people have registered to vote for president, members of Congress, several state governors and local officials, making it one of Mexico’s biggest-ever elections in the country of 129 million.
For security, around 27,000 soldiers and National Guard members will be dispatched to reinforce security on election day.
