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The S&D Group calls for the protection of all candidates running for elections in Mexico

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Justice & Home Affairs
Over one hundred politicians have been killed in Mexico since the beginning of the electoral campaign, which will culminate on 1 July with the election of 18,300 local and federal posts. Last Saturday, three candidates were killed while campaigning, Juana Iraís Maldonado and Erika Cazares in Puebla, and Pamela Terán in Oaxaca.
 
Socialists and Democrats in the European Parliament condemn the killings; they call for the end of violence and on the Mexican government to protect candidates in order to ensure clean elections.
 
Elena Valenciano MEP, S&D vice-president for foreign affairs, Latin America and human rights, said: 
 
“In no country in the world should political engagement entail a risk to personal integrity. Each of these killings must be investigated, because impunity destroys the foundations of democracy.
 
“We condemn the killing of candidates Juana Iraís Maldonado, Erika Cazares and Pamela Terán, shot last weekend, and we condemn all acts of violence against candidates and elected representatives in Mexico.”
 
Ramón Jáuregui MEP, who co-chairs the EU-Latin America Parliamentary Assembly (Eurolat) added:
 
“It is an indispensable requirement to hold democratic elections and to respect all the candidates’ integrity. The development of the electoral process must take place in a context of safety for all persons participating. This is a basic norm of the Rule of Law.
 
“Unfortunately, there are mob forces in Mexico linked to drug trafficking - but not exclusively - who aspire to undermine the right to stand as a candidate, abridging the freedom of those competing.
 
“We ask the Mexican State to do its utmost to protect candidates running for elections, and to guarantee the freedom and democratic transparency of the process.”