On Saturday, Mexican authorities made the decision to suspend general elections scheduled for Sunday in two cities in the country’s southeast due to violence that prevented polling stations from being set up. This was announced in response to the situation of violence and ungovernability in the cities of Pantelhó and Chicomuselo in the state of Chiapas. These cities have a combined population of over 56,000 inhabitants.
On Sunday, Mexicans were set to elect their new president and more than 20,000 national and local leaders. However, due to acts of violence and threats in the two cities, election authorities were forced to suspend the elections in order to ensure the safety of voters and election officials. In Chicomuselo, unknown persons burned documents at polling stations and officials reported threats as well. The situation in Pantelhó was equally concerning, with reports of armed men preventing voters from being called to the polling stations. This interference by armed groups raised concerns about the safety and security of both voters and election officials in the area.
The decision to suspend the elections in these cities reflects the challenges of ensuring a free and fair electoral process in the midst of violence and intimidation. It is hoped that peaceful elections can be held soon without any further disruptions or threats to security.
