A young member of Parliament has been found dead in her home and police are investigating the circumstances of her death after several Mexican politicians were killed in the ongoing drug wars plaguing the country.

Celeste Sanchez Romero, 32, was found dead in her home on Gabino Barreda Street in the Mexican city of Durango on Monday, 21st February.

She was a member of Parliament (MP) for the left-wing Partido del Trabajo (PT), which is usually translated into English as either the Labour Party or the Workers’ Party.

The PT commands 33 of the Chamber of Deputies’ 500 seats and is the most junior of the three parties that make up the governing coalition.

The circumstances surrounding the parliamentarian’s passing remain unclear. However, her body is being autopsied in order to ascertain the cause of death.

A stomatologist and dental surgeon by trade, she began serving her term in Mexico’s lower house in August 2021.

She had stated on her website that her “focus is to support and promote initiatives that benefit the Mexican people in their finances, health and well-being, especially the most unprotected”.

Former Mexican President Felipe Calderon was one of many who paid tribute to the late member of Parliament on social media. He wrote on Twitter: “How awful! Rest in peace. My condolences to her family.”

Although the cause of Sanchez Romero’s death is currently unclear, it is notable that several Mexican politicians have been killed in the ongoing Mexican drug war.

According to CNN, 88 politicians or candidates were killed between September 2020 and the June 2021 Mexican legislative election.