Mexican Senate approves judicial reform after protesters storm chamber – DNyuz

Senators in Mexico have approved a judicial overhaul proposed by outgoing President Andrés Manuel Lopez Obrador after debate was briefly interrupted by protesters who stormed the upper chamber in an attempt to block the vote.

The Senate, dominated by Lopez Obrador’s ruling Morena party and its allies, approved the controversial reform by 86 votes to 41 in a marathon session on Wednesday, giving it the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution.

Under the new measures, Mexico would become the first country in the world to allow voters to choose judges at all levels, including the country’s Supreme Court. Supreme Court judges are typically confirmed by the Senate based on a shortlist submitted by the president.

Lopez Obrador, who wanted the bill passed before he was replaced in October by his chosen successor Claudia Sheinbaum, claims the changes mean the judiciary will no longer be “at the service of the powerful, at the service of white-collar crime”.

However, critics, including court staff and law students, say the plan could jeopardize the independence of the judiciary and undermine the system of checks and balances.

Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Pina said elected judges could be more vulnerable to pressure from criminals in a country where powerful drug cartels regularly use bribery and intimidation to influence officials.

Opponents of the law have been protesting for weeks.

During the Senate debate, hundreds of protesters stormed the chamber with pipes and chains, chanting, “The judiciary will not fall.”

Lawmakers were forced to move to a former Senate building, where they resumed their debate as protesters outside chanted, “Mr. Senator, stop the dictator!”

According to Lopez Obrador, the protesters were protecting the interests of the political elite.

The reform, which has strained relations with countries including the United States and Canada, allows for the election of more than 6,500 judges, magistrates and ministers.

The number of Supreme Court judges was also reduced from 11 to 9, their terms of office were reduced to 12 years, the minimum age of 35 was abolished, and the required work experience was halved to five years.

In June 2025, elections will be held to replace the majority of judges. In 2027, the remaining judges will be elected.

For each position, several candidates are nominated by the executive, legislative and judicial branches of Mexico. A technical committee then selects the candidates.

Opponents say the large number of seats up for vote makes it difficult for citizens to be well-informed.

Pina said last week that the Supreme Court would discuss whether it has jurisdiction to stop the reform, though Lopez Obrador has said there is no legal basis to do so.

The reform will now be voted on in state-level congresses, where the governing coalition has the votes to pass it. It will come into effect once it is published in Mexico’s official gazette.

The measures were passed last week in the lower house by ruling party lawmakers and their allies, who were forced to gather in a sports centre after protesters blocked access to Congress.

U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar said last month that the changes could pose a “grave risk” to Mexican democracy and allow criminals to exploit “politically motivated and inexperienced judges.”

Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers, expressed “deep concern” about the plan, calling access to an independent and impartial judiciary “a human right essential for the protection of rights and prevention of abuse of power”.

Separately, the US-based human rights group Human Rights Watch had called on lawmakers to reject what it called the “dangerous proposals,” saying they would “seriously undermine the independence of the judiciary and violate international human rights standards.”

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