Mexico’s Congress advances a contentious bill to make all judges run for election
Associated Press
Mexico's Senate to Vote on Judicial Reform
Above: Lawmakers during a session of Mexico's Senate on Sept. 21, 2022. Image copyright: Wikimedia Commons
The Facts
Mexican senators are set to begin debating Pres. Andrés Manuel López Obrador's judicial reform on Tuesday, followed by a final full Senate vote scheduled to take place no later than the next day.
This comes as the reform package passed a Senate commission late on Sunday, with 25 in favor and 12 against. Last week, the lower house of Mexico's Congress, the Chamber of Deputies, approved the bill 359-135.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
As Obrador enters his final month in office, his goal is clearly to consolidate his Morena party's power and install a totalitarian regime in Mexico. Instead of promoting independence and democracy, this judicial reform will do the opposite by lowering professional standards and creating further vulnerabilities.
Establishment-critical narrative
It's urgent that Mexico reforms its judicial system, as most Mexicans have expressed their desire to vote for judges rather than being subject to the dictates of the judiciary elite—one that is largely owned by US corporations. These changes are part of a broader push to bring more equality and social justice to Mexico.