Protests erupted in Mexico following the Senate’s approval of a controversial judicial reform that allows judges to be elected by popular vote. Proponents argue that this change will enhance accountability among judges, while opponents claim it jeopardizes the system of checks and balances and could concentrate power within the ruling Morena party. Demonstrations escalated, with protesters breaching the building where the vote was scheduled.
In a tense late-night session, the debate was temporarily halted as protesters shouted “the judiciary will not fall” during a gathering of senators. The vote proceeded after lawmakers relocated to another building. Senators cast their votes individually, with Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes, breaking from his opposition party, supporting the reform, which secured the necessary two-thirds majority for constitutional amendment. The Senate then further deliberated on various aspects of the reform before granting it final approval. This development is seen as a significant triumph for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who is set to conclude his term on September 30. He has strongly advocated for the reform, particularly after confrontations with Mexico’s Supreme Court, which has nullified several of his initiatives related to energy and security, leading him to accuse the judiciary of serving elite interests and facilitating white-collar crime.