Veracruz: Gender Parity in Law, Inequality in Mayor's Offices; Men Dominate

The 2025 municipal elections in Veracruz have revealed a persistent gender gap: although the law requires parity in candidacies, men secured at least 155 mayoral positions, compared to 51 for women. This result raises questions about the real effectiveness of quotas and the obstacles facing Veracruz politics.

Xalapa, Veracruz.- A detailed analysis of the results of the June 1 municipal elections in Veracruz shows that gender parity, a fundamental principle enshrined in electoral legislation, has not yet translated into equitable representation in the highest local government positions. Data from the Local Public Electoral Body (OPLE) indicates that men will preside in at least 155 of the state's 212 municipalities, while women have secured 51 mayoralties.

This disparity persists even though six municipalities still have their vote counts pending due to incidents of violence and insecurity, as preliminary results in those districts also favor male candidates.

The gender gap runs throughout Veracruz's political spectrum. For example, Movimiento Ciudadano (MC), which established itself as the second-largest political force in the state by winning 40 municipalities, will only have two female mayors, representing a mere 5% of its victories. This low percentage in a party with significant growth in the state is particularly striking and could indicate specific challenges for MC candidates in Veracruz or internal decisions within the nomination process.

In the case of the Morena-PVEM alliance, of the 57 municipalities won, 21 will be headed by women (36.8%), a percentage closer to parity, although still not fully achieved in the total number of victories.

Female Representation in Mayorships by Main Parties/Alliances in Veracruz (2025): Party/Alliance Total Mayorships Won Mayors Elected % of Mayors Morena-PVEM 57 21 36.8% Citizen Movement 40 2 5.0% Labor Party (PT) 31 9 29.0% PRI 21 4 19.0% Morena (only) 11 2 18.2% PVEM (only) 13 5 38.5%

Source: Data based on official results, with percentage calculations.

The situation in Veracruz suggests that gender quotas, while a necessary step, are not sufficient on their own to guarantee effective equal representation. There are multiple factors that may be influencing this:

• Internal party processes: Are women nominated in districts or municipalities with lower chances of winning?
• Campaign Financing: Do female candidates receive the same financial and logistical support as their male counterparts?
• Political gender-based violence: Do women face additional obstacles such as intimidation, harassment, or direct violence during their campaigns?
• Political culture and stereotypes: Do biases persist within the electorate or within party structures that hinder women's advancement?

The answer to these questions is crucial for designing more effective strategies that promote full and equal political participation for women.

One factor that cannot be ignored is the impact of violence on the electoral process. The fact that six municipalities were unable to complete their vote counts due to insecurity is a serious warning sign. This situation not only affects the reliability of the final results and the composition of the political map, but can also discourage citizen participation, particularly that of women, who are often more vulnerable to certain types of political violence.

"Veracruz's democracy faces the challenge of ensuring that parity is not just a legal aspiration, but a tangible reality at all levels of government."

The road to truly equal representation in Veracruz is still long. It requires not only compliance with the laws, but also a profound cultural shift within political parties and society, as well as a frontal attack on the violence that threatens the very foundations of democracy.

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