Protests Erupt in Mexico Following Passage of Controversial Judicial Reform
Mexico’s Senate has enacted a divisive judicial reform that allows for judges to be elected through popular vote. Proponents claim this move enhances accountability of judges to the public, while opponents warn it threatens the nation’s system of checks and balances and could increase the influence of the ruling Morena party. The legislation has sparked strikes and widespread protests, with demonstrators previously breaching the site where the vote was scheduled to occur. This Senate vote marks the final significant obstacle for the reform, which is supported by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
During an intense late-night session, the debate was momentarily halted when protesters, chanting “the judiciary will not fall,” invaded the chamber. Following the disruption, lawmakers relocated to a different building to proceed with the vote, which took place in the early hours of Wednesday. Senators were individually called to cast their votes. Notably, Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes diverged from the stance of his opposition party, the National Action Party, and voted in favor of the reform, securing the necessary two-thirds majority for constitutional change. The legislators engaged in detailed discussions on several issues before granting the reform final approval.
This legislation represents a significant win for President López Obrador as he approaches the end of his term on September 30. The president had vigorously endorsed the reform after facing numerous confrontations with Mexico’s Supreme Court, which has thwarted some of his proposed changes in energy and security throughout his six years in office. López Obrador has accused the judiciary of serving the interests of the elite and enabling white-collar crime.