Wife of Assassinated Mexican Mayor to Take Office
By Lizbeth Diaz
Michocán Mayor's Widow to Succeed Him
The wife of Carlos Manzo, the mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán, Mexico, who was violently assassinated during the Day of the Dead celebrations, will assume his position on Wednesday. This decision follows several days of protests demanding justice.
Official Announcement and Ceremony
President Claudia Sheinbaum announced at her daily press briefing that Grecia Quiroz will replace her late husband as mayor of Uruapan, a city known as Mexico’s avocado capital. The official swearing-in will occur Wednesday afternoon at the state congress.
Details of the Assassination
Manzo, aged 40, was fatally shot by a masked gunman while attending a candlelight festival on Saturday night. The attack triggered nationwide outrage, partly due to Manzo’s outspoken criticism of the federal government’s handling of organized crime.
Just moments before the shooting, Manzo delivered a speech and held his young son, who was dressed as a skeleton, during the event in this city of 350,000 residents.
Commitment to Continue the Fight
“They took the father of my children from me, but they were wrong, this isn’t over,”
Quiroz said during a memorial service for her husband on Monday. She vowed to carry on Manzo’s battle against the powerful drug cartels that have deeply entrenched themselves in the avocado and lime industries.
Summary
Grecia Quiroz will take over as mayor of Uruapan after her husband's assassination, pledging to continue his struggle against organized crime controlling key agricultural businesses.