Veracruz Mayors Lose Immunity Amid Murder and Disappearance Cases

The Veracruz state Congress voted 40‑8 to strip constitutional immunity (fuero) from two municipal presidents. Raúl González Martínez, mayor of Ixhuatlán del Sureste, is under investigation for alleged intellectual authorship of journalist Roxana Guzmán’s murder. Bertín Bravo Montero, mayor of Úrsulo Galván, faces accusations of involvement in the disappearance of businessman Héctor Ramos and his escort. The removal of fuero allows the state prosecutor to continue criminal proceedings against both officials. González did not attend the session and was represented by his legal team; both mayors have denied the charges. Legal analysts note that the evidence cited by prosecutors relies mainly on reference witnesses and may be weak. Following the vote, Pedro de Jesús Rosado Guzmán, a physician and former deputy mayor, will assume the mayoralty of Úrsulo Galván as the designated substitute. The cases highlight ongoing concerns about violence against journalists and enforced disappearances in Veracruz.