US ambassador to Mexico calls proposed justice reform a democratic ‘risk’ and an economic threat

MEXICO CITY (AP) — U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar said Thursday that a proposed judicial overhaul by Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador poses a “risk” to Mexican democracy and threatens “the historic trade relationship” between Mexico and the U.S.

The proposal, which includes a provision to allow judges to be elected, has sparked fierce protests from investors and financial institutions in recent days, as the Mexican peso has steadily fallen on currency markets.

“Democracies cannot function without a strong, independent and uncorrupt judiciary,” Salazar told reporters. “Any judicial reform must have guarantees that the judiciary is strengthened, and not subject to political circumstances.”

He said the proposed revision would “help cartels and other bad actors take advantage of inexperienced judges with political motives” and “create turbulence” in the economic and political spheres for years to come.

Thanks to these measures, virtually anyone with a law degree and a few years of experience as a lawyer can become a judge through popular election.

Given the landslide election victories of López Obrador’s Morena party in June, academics, financial institutions and court workers say the changes could pave the way for courts to be packed with politically biased judges, a move that could give the ruling party control over all three branches of government and deal a blow to checks and balances, they warn.

The proposal must be approved by Mexico’s newly elected Congress, which takes office on September 1 with Morena and his allies holding a majority. The president’s six-year term expires on September 30, and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum has also defended the proposal.

Salazar dodged several questions from reporters who asked whether the reform would lead to sanctions or measures from U.S. authorities against Mexico.

López Obrador, a populist who despises independent regulators, has long been at odds with the judiciary.

He claims judges are part of a “mafia” opposed to him, and says the proposal is aimed at cleaning up corruption. has continued to launch tirades against the justice systemignored court orders and publicly clashed with judges whose rulings he disagreed with.

Salazar said that eradicating corruption in the Mexican judiciary is not a bad idea, but he was deeply concerned about the prospect of judges being elected.

“The direct election of judges poses a risk to the functioning of Mexican democracy and the integration of the US, Mexican and Canadian economies,” Salazar said.

Criticism of the proposed changes has grown as thousands of judges and court staff started striking this weekcausing most federal courts to grind to a halt.

Their concerns were shared by major financial institutions in both the US and Mexico.

On Tuesday, Morgan Stanley downgraded its recommendation for investments in Mexico, saying the revision would “increase risk.” Others, such as Citibanamex, warned that the proposal’s approval could lead to the “cancellation of liberal democracy.” The Mexican peso has fallen since court workers began their strike on Monday.

López Obrador dismissed the concerns, arguing Wednesday that the peso’s decline was due to larger changes in the global market. He said the idea that his judicial review caused the peso’s problem was a “complete lie.”