MEXICO, June 4: In a tragic turn of events, Yolanda Sánchez, the female mayor of Cotija, Mexico, became the latest victim of violence targeting politicians in the country. Just hours after Claudia Sheinbaum’s historic election as Mexico’s first female president, Sánchez was fatally shot by gunmen in the town she had governed since September 2021.
Sánchez, the first woman to hold the mayoral position in Cotija, Michoacán, fell victim to an ambush in the town center on Monday. Reports indicate that she was shot 19 times and succumbed to her injuries in the hospital shortly after the attack. Tragically, her bodyguard was also killed in the exchange of gunfire.
Although no arrests have been made in connection with the attack, suspicions point to involvement by an organized crime group. Sánchez had previously received death threats upon assuming office and had been kidnapped for three days by armed men in a neighboring state in 2023.
The circumstances surrounding her abduction shed light on the pervasive influence of criminal elements in Mexican politics. Sánchez revealed that her kidnappers, believed to be associated with the Jalisco New Generation cartel (CJNG), had demanded control over the town’s security forces. Despite facing threats and coercion, she steadfastly refused to comply with their demands.
Her murder underscores the alarming escalation of violence against political figures in Mexico, with more than 20 candidates killed since September. Despite the prevailing climate of fear, Claudia Sheinbaum emerged victorious in the presidential race, securing a historic win as the first female president of Mexico.
However, the election campaign was marred by violence and intimidation, prompting criticism from Sheinbaum’s defeated rival, Xóchitl Gálvez. Gálvez, while conceding defeat, lamented the pervasive pain and violence evident throughout Mexico and expressed hope for solutions to the country’s pressing issues.
As Mexico grapples with the aftermath of yet another tragic loss, questions loom over the future of its political landscape and the ongoing struggle against organized crime.