Mexico’s lower house of Congress plunged into a heated debate on Tuesday regarding a controversial judicial reform, defying a historic work stoppage by Supreme Court judges who are protesting the changes. The judges, in a rare move, joined thousands of judicial workers on strike, a decision that has never occurred in the court’s history. The strike was prompted by the proposed reform, which has sparked tensions with the United States and rattled financial markets.
The heart of the constitutional reform, spearheaded by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, involves a radical shift in the selection of judges. Instead of presidential nominations followed by Senate confirmation, the reform proposes electing over 7,000 judges and magistrates, including Supreme Court justices, through popular vote. This proposal, supported by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez Obrador’s successor, is expected to pass smoothly through Congress, where the ruling Morena party holds a majority in both chambers.
The reform also proposes reducing the number of Supreme Court judges from 11 to 9, shortening their terms to 12 years, and halving the required work experience for ministerial positions. Lopez Obrador argues that these changes are vital to holding judges accountable and tackling corruption. However, critics counter that the reform fails to address the real culprits of impunity and corruption, namely prosecutors, police, and public ministries.
The reform has raised alarm bells among investors and the U.S. ambassador to Mexico. They fear that it will weaken the crucial checks and balances on the executive branch, potentially harming the business environment in Latin America’s second-largest economy.
Adding to the tension, judicial workers, who have vehemently opposed the reform through demonstrations and the ongoing work stoppage, blocked the entrance to the lower house, forcing lawmakers to relocate the debate to a sports venue in Mexico City. A judge even issued an order on Saturday demanding the suspension of discussions on the reform, citing concerns about the judicial workers’ labor rights. However, Ricardo Monreal, the Morena party leader in the lower house, dismissed the order as “undue and rude interference” and declared that the debate would continue. The Morena Congress members plan to discuss and approve the reform during Tuesday’s session. The reform is then expected to move to the Senate on Wednesday, where the Morena party is only one senator short of the supermajority required for approving constitutional reforms.
