Veracruz Congress strips immunity from two Movimiento Ciudadano mayors amid criminal investigations
The Veracruz State Congress voted 40‑8 to withdraw constitutional immunity (fuero) from two Movimiento Ciudadano (MC) municipal presidents: Bertín Bravo Montero of Úrsulo Galván and Raúl González Martínez of Ixhuatlán del Sureste. The move follows investigations by the State Attorney General into the homicide of journalist Roxana Guzmán and the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez and his associate Ignacio López.
Governor Rocío Nahle García said the desafuero derives solely from the prosecutor’s files and denied any political persecution, stating that the officials must face the charges in court. MC national leader Jorge Álvarez Máynez, however, accused the state government of “political persecution” and of using the justice system as a tool against the party.
The Congress session, held in a private plenary on 5 August, approved the removal of fuero for both mayors, allowing the Fiscalía General del Estado to continue criminal proceedings. Bravo Montero attended the session, proclaiming his innocence and presenting an amparo against the process, while González Martínez also faced the vote. The decision does not constitute a conviction but removes the constitutional shield that previously protected the officials from ordinary prosecution.
Entities: Alex Domínguez · Bertín Bravo Montero · Daniela Álvarez · Fiscalía General del Estado · Institutional Revolutionary Party · Mexican Congress · Morena · Movimiento Ciudadano · National Electoral Institute · National Regeneration Movement · PAN · PRI
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Raúl González Martínez is accused of being the intellectual author of the murder of journalist Roxana Berenice Guzmán Ramírez. (646ac9b5)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Bertín Bravo Montero is accused of involvement in the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez and his escort Ignacio López. (c8a38a4f, f2d61ff7)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The mayors are Bertín Bravo Montero of Úrsulo Galván and Raúl González Martínez of Ixhuatlán del Sureste. (c8a38a4f, 646ac9b5)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] Governor Rocío Nahle García said the desafuero proceedings are not politically motivated. (cda2c0a4)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] The vote on Bertín Bravo’s desafuero recorded 40 votes in favour and 8 against. (f2d61ff7)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The State Attorney General (FGE) is leading the investigations against the two mayors. (c8a38a4f, 646ac9b5)
- [● 3 SOURCES] The Veracruz Congress scheduled a private extraordinary session on 5 August to vote on removing the constitutional immunity of two Movimiento Ciudadano mayors. (c8a38a4f, 646ac9b5, c4f0ff7b)
- [○ 1 SOURCE] If the desafuero is approved, Pedro de Jesús Rosado Guzmán will become interim mayor of Úrsulo Galván and Juliana Ruiz Martínez will become interim mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste. (cda2c0a4)
- [● 2 SOURCES] The two former mayors must now face criminal proceedings before the courts. (Legal requirement after fuero removal)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Veracruz Congress voted to remove constitutional immunity (fuero) from Raúl González Martínez, mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste. (Veracruz Congress decision)
- [● 2 SOURCES] Governor Rocío Nahle García said the fuero removals are not political and stem from criminal investigations. (Press conference statements)
- [● 4 SOURCES] The fuero removals are linked to investigations into the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos Sánchez and his companion Ignacio López. (State Attorney General's Office investigations)