By Ricardo Lezama 
In a significant ruling by the Electoral Tribunal of Mexico City (TECDMX), the election held on June 2 for the mayoralty of Cuauhtémoc has been annulled. The Tribunal concluded that Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, who was initially declared the winner and represented the coalition Va X la CDMX, committed acts of political violence against Catalina Monreal, the candidate from the leftist Morena party.
For those unfamiliar with the past of Alessandra Rojo de la Vega, the leader of the conservative opposition was subject to some online criticism for an allegedly faked assassination attempt where a shooter was filmed aiming purely at the door panels of her vehicle. Given the usual efficacy of such operators in Mexico, the entire sequence shown below does cause some suspicion.
#ULTIMAHORA
— La Catrina Norteña (@catrina_nortena) May 14, 2024
🚨 Se Cae MONTAJE de la Prianista Alessandra Rojo en la Cuauhtémoc
Aquí se ve el supuesto atentado en donde el "sicario" tiene todo el tiempo del mundo, no se acerca y solo le dispara a la parte trasera de la camioneta.
Mentiras, mentiras y más mentiras… pic.twitter.com/xOKm36WnmF
Nonetheless, the ruling has ignited a heated debate across social media about the implications for democracy in the region.
-Impugnará @AlessandraRdlv la nulidad de la elección en la alcaldía Cuauhtémoc; acusa "compadrazgo criminal"
— Manuel Lopez San Martin (@MLopezSanMartin) September 1, 2024
– @catymonreal_ dice que es un "precedente para no volver a invisibilizar a ninguna mujer" 👇 pic.twitter.com/Zz0VPbPXk2
Catalina Monreal, daughter of influential politician Ricardo Monreal, celebrated the Tribunal’s decision, which many view as a testament to addressing gender-based political violence. However, dissenting voices emerged, criticizing the Tribunal for what they perceived as an extension of nepotism and alleged political manipulation on behalf of Monreal’s family.
ON X, some users expressed outrage at the ruling, accusing the Morena party of deceit and corruption, and questioning the legitimacy of the electoral process.
Critics pointedly suggested that the judgment reflects a troubling trend where power dynamics overshadow electoral integrity. One user lamented the apparent disconnection between the ruling body and the electorate, questioning whether residents of Cuauhtémoc would remain passive in the face of these developments. Suggestions for protests emerged on social media, indicating a potential mobilization against what some see as a usurpation of democratic will.
Others opined that the ruling highlights a deeply rooted issue within the current political structure, characterized by the intertwining of power and family. With references to the Monreal family’s growing influence in Zacatecas and now in Mexico City, the narrative surrounding this election denounces not just a singular event but the broader implications of a political clan’s reach into local governance.
As the dust settles, the political landscape of Cuauhtémoc remains uncertain. The contest to reclaim authority lies ahead, and with Morena poised to strengthen its grip over the region, apprehensions abound regarding the integrity of future elections and the voices of the citizens who cast their votes in the belief of a fair democratic process.