Mexico City, April 11 (RHC)-- Politicians running for office in the campaign for Mexico´s general elections are exposing themselves to great risks.

According to an Etellekt report, cited by Telesur, here have been over 200 attacks on Mexican politicians since September 2017. The attacks have taken place in 29 of the country´s 32 federal states, mainly Puebla, Guerrero, Veracruz, Mexico State and Hidalgo.

About 173 of the 203 incidents have been direct aggressions committed by members of organized crime groups, while 30 were against relatives of the politicians. There were 78 murders reported. Authorities have confirmed the deaths of at least 30 candidates, according to Mexico's interior secretary Alfonso Navarrete.

Etellekt disclosed that there have been about 60 attacks in the past month.

“The number of threats of death and intimidation against candidates has also increased greatly, forcing them to renounce their aspirations in exchange for not threatening their lives or relatives in many municipalities,” the report said.

The interior secretary told reporters that the attacks were “very focused on some regions of the country,” mostly in areas where organized crime is rampant.

“That doesn't mean we are not taking steps,” the interior secretary said. “We could do it in a much better manner in an electoral year, be much more effective,” Navarrete explained.

Some 66 percent of the murders were registered in the pre-campaign and inter-campaign period. There have been calls for security to be assigned to the victims, who a usually candidates running for office.

In the general polls scheduled for next July 1st, voters will elect a new president to serve a six-year term, 500 members of the Chamber of Deputies and 128 members of the Senate. Incumbent president Enrique Peña Nieto is not eligible for a second term according to Mexico's constitution.