Mexico’s Obrador pushes through judicial reforms to elect judges by popular vote

Published on: 16/09/2024 – 03:43

1 minute

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced Sunday that he has signed controversial judicial reforms that will make Mexico the only country in the world where all judges are elected by popular vote.

The outgoing leftist leader signed the decree in a video posted on social media, calling it a “historic day.”

He was joined by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, his longtime ally, who will replace him on October 1 after her landslide election victory in June.

Lopez Obrador had championed the constitutional changes and criticized the current legal system as “rotten,” corrupt and serving the interests of the political and economic elite.

Opponents and legal experts fear that elected judges are more vulnerable to pressure from criminals in a country where powerful drug cartels regularly use bribery and intimidation to influence officials.

Since taking office in 2018, Lopez Obrador has frequently spoken out strongly about the judiciary, particularly the Supreme Court, which has hampered some of his policies in areas such as energy and security.

Last week, lawmakers had to suspend their debate and move to another location after protesters stormed the Senate chanting, “The judiciary will not fall.”

Opponents, who accuse Lopez Obrador of overseeing a trend toward democratic backsliding, have held a series of protests against the plan, which would see the Supreme Court and other top judges elected by popular vote.

The United States, Mexico’s top trading partner, has warned that the reforms threaten a relationship that depends on investor confidence in Mexico’s legal framework.

(AFP)