Mexican Judiciary Workers Protest Over Reform

Workers of the judiciary in Mexico waved flags in a march to show their rejection of the judicial reform the Senate approved.

Mexico's Senate approved a sweeping judicial reform that will overhaul the country's judiciary by electing judges by popular vote, a profound transformation that critics fear could threaten the rule of law and damage the economy.

The reform marks a major win for outgoing leftist President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador in his final month in office.

In a marathon session that had to be paused and relocated as protesters broke into the Senate building, the ruling Morena party and allies clinched the final two-thirds supermajority vote needed to approve the reform, which has prompted protests, a strike by judicial workers and market volatility.

The approval followed a tense final legislative debate and high political drama as the ruling coalition began one seat short of the supermajority needed to write the reform into the constitution.

But an opposition lawmaker, Miguel Angel Yunes, broke party ranks to vote in favor of the bill, while another was absent amid allegations he had been detained to stop him from voting.

Elections to replace a majority of judges will be held in June 2025, with ballots cast for the rest in 2027.

Several candidates per role will be nominated by Mexico’s executive, legislative and judicial branches before being narrowed down by a technical committee.

Opponents say the high number of positions up for vote will make it difficult for citizens to be well-informed.

The reform will now be voted on at state-level congresses, where the ruling coalition has the votes to see it through. It will take effect once published in Mexico’s official gazette.

The measures were passed last week in the lower house by ruling party lawmakers and their allies, who were forced to gather in a sports centre because access to Congress was blocked by protesters.