Movimiento Ciudadano said it denounced political persecution this week after Veracruz prosecutors sought to strip immunity from two of its mayors [1].
The legal move targets municipal leaders in Ixhuatlán del Sureste and Úrsulo Galván. Because these officials hold significant local power, the request for *desafuero* — the removal of legal immunity — could lead to their immediate prosecution and removal from office.
The Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office is investigating Raúl González Martínez, the mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, in connection with the murder of journalist Roxana Guzmán [2]. Authorities are also pursuing Bertín Bravo, the mayor of Úrsulo Galván, regarding the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez [1].
Movimiento Ciudadano said the requests are an act of political persecution against the opposition [1]. The party said the legal proceedings are being used as tools to destabilize their presence in the region.
However, state officials have rejected the notion that the investigations are partisan. Governor Rocío Nahle said the issue is not political and will be decided by the Fiscalía [3]. The state prosecutor said the measures are based on criminal investigations into the murder and disappearance cases [1].
Reports of the fiscalía’s request for the removal of immunity first surfaced on July 23 [2]. The two mayors [1] now face a legal process to determine if they can be tried in criminal court for the alleged crimes.
“Movimiento Ciudadano said it denounced political persecution after the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office requested the removal of immunity.”
The clash between Movimiento Ciudadano and the Veracruz state government highlights the tension between judicial accountability and political stability in Mexico. While the removal of immunity is a standard legal procedure for prosecuting officials, the timing and target of these requests often trigger accusations of 'lawfare' — the use of legal systems to handicap political opponents. The outcome will likely depend on whether the Fiscalía can provide sufficient evidence to link the mayors to the violent crimes involving the journalist and businessman.
