Chaos erupts in Mexico after lawmakers pass judicial overhaul bill
NBCSep 14
Mexico's Senate Approves Regulations on Judicial Reform
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Above: Ruling Morena Party senator Gerardo Fernandez Norona (C) and members of Mexico's Senate celebrate after they passed the controversial judicial reform at the Senate's chamber in Mexico City on Sept. 11, 2024. Image copyright: Cesar Sanchez/AFP via Getty Images
The Facts
Mexico's Senate approved on Thursday — with 81 votes in favor — secondary legislation regulating the implementation of a constitutional reform that allows voters to directly elect all judges.
The proposal was brought forward by the country's new president, Claudia Sheinbaum, earlier this week and will now head to the lower house of Congress — where the ruling Morena party and its allies have a large majority.
The Spin
Narrative A
This reform represents a long-standing and highly popular belief among the Mexican people. Critics may claim it will threaten judicial independence, but the truth is that wealthy special interests have controlled the courts for many years— blocking popular economic, energy, and corruption legislation. This corrupt status quo is about to end.
Narrative B
This reform is all but democratic, as the party behind it aims to use it as an authoritarian weapon. The ruling Morena party — the only real beneficiary of this law — wants to centralize control over both the civilian national guard and independent agencies and will use this newfound control over the judiciary to uphold its tyrannical policies.
