Politics: Killing of Michoacán mayor sparks outrage over weakness in Sheinbaum’s response to organized crime
The high-profile murder on November 1 of Carlos Manzo Rodriguez, mayor of Uruapan, Michoacán, has sparked enormous pent-up indignation nationwide and put the spotlight on President Claudia Sheinbaum’s public security policies. Manzo, who had previously been a Morena congressional deputy but bolted the party when not given the nomination as its mayoral candidate, was publicly known as a hardliner in the fight against organized crime. He had demanded and was refused protection, based on the federal government’s line of not resorting to militarization—as in previous PRI and PAN administrations—but rather addressing the social causes behind crime.
Sheinbaum’s response was initially limited to a routine announcement that an investigation is underway and there will be zero impunity, and again, that it was necessary to address the root causes of crime-fueled violence. Furthermore, the President sharply attacked critics for allegedly taking political advantage of the situation.
Such violence is not new to Michoacán, which has had eight mayors assassinated since 2022. The state has been wracked by violence from rival drug cartels, who are now heavily involved in the extortion business. However, for many, the Manzo murder completely exposed the government’s explicit renunciation of its constitutional obligation to provide security for its constituents. The public outrage translated into mass demonstrations—65,000 participated in Uruapan out of a total population of 350,000—fueled by what is widely perceived to be Sheinbaum’s weak response.
Feeling the heat, on November 4, the President announced the drafting of the Michoacan Plan for Peace and Justice. It is based on three pillars: beefing up federal public security forces; a massive increase in public investment, bolstering economic development with justice; and education and culture for peace. The policy contains many of the same policies as in the past to combat organized crime, although it does contemplate input by civil society, the indigenous communities, and economic and political actors. It will be approved and formally launched in the next few days. Pending the results of this Plan, questions have nevertheless been raised as to whether the Manzo assassination, the resulting fallout, and the government’s response will be a turning point for the Sheinbaum administration and its thus far high approval ratings.
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