Cozumel Mayoral Debate Escalates: Corruption and Drug Trafficking Claims

The mayoral debate in Cozumel escalated into a heated exchange of allegations, including corruption, inefficiency, and even ties to drug trafficking. The accusations were not limited to the Morena alliance and the PRI-PAN, but also targeted the representative of Movimiento Ciudadano, who has a history with PRI governments.

The debate concluded with Pedro Joaquín Delbouis, of the PRI-PAN alliance, alleging that Morena's José Luis Chacón and MC's Roberto Marín have ties to drug cartels. Delbouis claimed one is linked to the Jalisco Cartel and the other to the Sinaloa Cartel. He highlighted the rise in crime during the tenure of Morena's Juanita Alonso, under whose administration 36 homicides occurred.

Chacón and the PRI-PAN representative exchanged insults, with Chacón labeling the former Cozumel Mayor as a "bandit," and the PRI-PAN representative calling Chacón an opportunist.

Roberto Marín of MC was next to face accusations, primarily from Abigail Diaz, the PRD candidate. Diaz criticized Marín's connections to former governor Roberto Borge and former mayor Fredy Marrufo, accusing him of attending the debate to carry out "dirty work."

Chacón criticized Pedro Joaquín's performance as Mayor of Cozumel and as a director of the Cozumel Parks and Museums Foundation. He blamed the insecurity in Cozumel on former governor Carlos Joaquín, the PRI candidate's uncle, and his state Secretary of Public Security, Alberto Capella. Chacón claimed that crime rates increased during Joaquín Delbouis' mayoral term.

Pedro Joaquín defended his record, pointing to his efforts to combat insecurity and corruption during his term as Municipal President. He criticized the current administration for the notable deterioration of various municipal projects.

In a final twist, Pedro Joaquín alleged a conspiracy against former municipal president and current local PAN and PRI deputy candidate, Perla Tun. He expressed concern about the politicization of the State Attorney General's Office.