Mexico: General elections July 1

Event

The campaign period for the upcoming general elections officially began on Friday, March 30. On July 1, up to 88 million Mexicans will head to the polls to choose their next president and to fill various federal, state, and local government positions. With 3400 posts up for grabs, it will be the largest election in Mexico’s history. The official campaign period will end on June 27.

Four candidates are vying for the presidential office. The current favorite is Andres Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) of the leftist National Regeneration Movement (MORENA).

An increase in the rate and intensity of political rallies and demonstrations is to be anticipated in the lead-up to the election. A rise in political violence is also likely, particularly in the more restive regions of the country.

Context

Pre-election violence in Mexican has already left some 30 politicians and candidates dead since September 2017. Candidates from different political parties have been targeted, many residing in regions where organized criminal organizations hold significant influence. Violence has been a central issue in the 2018 elections as there were an estimated 29,168 homicides nationwide in 2017, a 27 percent increase from 2016, and Mexico’s deadliest year in the past two decades.

Advice

Individuals in Mexico are advised to avoid all demonstrations and political rallies as a precaution and keep abreast of the sociopolitical climate situation.

Due to extreme levels of violence linked to the presence of various armed groups, some Western governments advise against travel to various parts of the country, notably the states of Guerrero, Michoacán, and Tamaulipas and the northeastern border with the US.