Australian National Review – Mexico cuts ties with US, Canadian embassies over concerns about justice reform

Mexican President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador has announced he will sever ties with the US and Canadian embassies after their ambassadors expressed concerns about his proposed justice reform.

Lopez Obrador said Tuesday that embassies must respect Mexico’s sovereignty to restore relations. He did not elaborate on the possible effect of the pause.

The U.S. and Canadian embassies in Mexico had not responded to The Epoch Times’ requests for comment as of publication.

The Mexican president’s comments came a day after lawmakers in Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved the justice reform bill, clearing the way for its passage when the newly elected Congress takes office in September.

The reform bill includes a provision that would require judges to be elected by popular vote. The Mexican president has said the reform is needed to combat judicial corruption.

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Lopez Obrador previously accused the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, of interfering in his country’s internal affairs. Salazar had said the reform posed a “great risk” to Mexican democracy.

The U.S. envoy said Mexico’s judiciary needs “competent judges” to handle complex cases involving extradition, trade disputes and other issues.

But the reform proposal will abolish the qualification requirements for judges, allowing people with only a few years of legal experience to become judges through popular election, he noted.

Canadian Ambassador to Mexico Graeme Clark said last week that Mexico’s judicial reform proposal has raised concerns among investors.

“My investors are concerned, they want stability, they want a justice system that works when there are problems,” Clark said at an event last week.

Judges and magistrates in Mexico have gone on strike to protest the proposal, arguing that the reform would end merit-based career paths and make the judiciary more vulnerable to outside influence.

Lopez Obrador said the strike would not bring about any changes. His term as president ends next month, when he will be succeeded by Claudia Sheinbaum.

Reuters contributed to this report.