Mexico City was abuzz with the final day of campaigning before Sunday’s nationwide election, but the atmosphere was marred by violence and attacks on candidates. Opposition candidate Xóchitl Gálvez took the stage early Wednesday, criticizing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s approach to dealing with drug cartels. Gálvez promised to prioritize law enforcement and peace in a country plagued by high homicide rates.
On the other side, López Obrador’s Morena party candidate, Claudia Sheinbaum, held her final rally in Mexico City’s central square, touting national pride and the progress made under López Obrador’s administration. She vowed to continue policies aimed at offering alternatives to youth involved in drug cartels.
However, the shadow of violence loomed large over the campaigns as two mayoral candidates were shot in separate incidents in Guerrero and Jalisco. The violence underscores the challenges facing Mexico as it grapples with cartel violence and political instability.
As the country prepares to vote on Sunday, the election is seen as a pivotal moment in Mexico’s history, with the possibility of electing its first female president. More than 20,000 positions are up for grabs, and the outcome will shape the country’s future trajectory.
Despite the violence and unrest, candidates like Gálvez and Sheinbaum are pushing forward with their campaigns, hoping to bring about positive change in a country torn by division and crime. The eyes of the nation are on Mexico as it navigates through these turbulent times towards a brighter future.