The Mexican candidate for mayor in the city of Gulf killed at the beginning of the municipal campaigns

Xalapa, Mexico – On the first day of the election campaign for local elections in the Gulf Coast state of Veracruz, armed men killed a candidate for mayor from Mexican ruling party and others on Tuesday.

The murder of Anuar Valencia in the small rural city of Coxquihui was confirmed by his campaign and Luisa Alcalde, the leader of the Morena party of President Claudia Sheinbaum.

Valencia had just ended an event that started his campaign and prepared to take to the streets when more than two dozen armed men opened fire in his campaign headquarters in Nordveracruz.

The Veracruz authorities did not immediately comment on the attack.

Before the killing, the Interior Minister Ricardo Ahued Bardahuil said, who has security responsibility that candidates from various parties would have created 20 reports to the public prosecutor about security -related problems.

The local elections are planned in the 212 municipalities of Veracruz for June 1st.

Local candidates have been most susceptible to voting in the past, as organized criminal groups are trying to gain control of the local governments.