A mayoress of a municipality in the Mexican state of San Luis de Potosí resigned from her position just 17 days after taking office due to the death threats she had been receiving, the local press reported Monday.
Edna Yuriria del Carmen Medina Flores, substitute mayor of Santa María del Río, in San Luis Potosí, was sworn in just 17 days ago to replace Emmanuel Govea, who died three weeks ago in a car accident.
Govea passed away on the afternoon of December 31, when his truck left the road on the road to Rioverde.
Mexican mayor resigns due to death threats
On his Facebook network profile, Medina Flores announced his resignation.
“I no longer want death threats against my family and myself,” said the former mayor, who was opposed to the installation of a gas company, which, according to her, would endanger the population.
“You know what work is following its course; you know that this work is full of corruption. Forgive me, because this has already gotten out of hand. I want you to know that my family is the most sacred. I don’t expect you to understand. I only hope that you as a people do not allow this work to be carried out in the center that will endanger the lives of the children,” said Medina Flores.
Leader of the Green Party, the former official said that she began to be threatened for having refused to receive bribes in installments of 5 million pesos (265,000 dollars).
According to the Excelsior newspaper, Govea would also have been tempted with the sum and it is unknown if he accepted it.
“I ask you in the most attentive way to stop your attacks and defamations; I think that the goal they were looking for has already been achieved; I no longer want death threats against my family and myself,” he added, and warned that if the pressure persists, he will reveal the names of those who make up the corruption network.
Santa María del Río is a town located about 50 kilometers from the city of San Luis Potosí, and Medina Flores had taken office on the 5th of this month, after serving as Councilor.