A New Mayor Starts in Mexico: What Now?

Last Thursday, a doctor named Gustavo Alarcón was sworn in as the new mayor of Chilpancingo, a city in southern Mexico. This happened just days after the previous mayor, Alejandro Arcos, was brutally killed and beheaded. Arcos had only been in office for a week. The city is caught in a violent fight between two drug gangs, the Ardillos and the Tlacos. Alarcón took office with just a few police officers for security. He promised to work for the good of all and fight the long-standing violence in the city. Before he was killed, Arcos had asked for more protection, but officials said they didn't receive a formal request. It's not clear if Alarcón has been given extra security measures.

Chilpancingo, with around 300,000 people, has been dominated by these two warring gangs. Just this year, children were reported to be armed to combat the cartels. The federal government has been dealing with similar issues, with mayors from other towns requesting protection. In Guanajuato, at least four mayoral candidates were killed ahead of the June elections. Guerrero has seen extreme violence. Earlier this year, Catholic bishops arranged a truce between two warring cartels. Former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador had supported these talks, saying religious leaders helped keep the peace.

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