In a dramatic escalation of tensions between Mexico’s legislative and judicial branches, federal judges have issued suspensions to halt the discussion and potential approval of a controversial judicial reform in the Chamber of Deputies. The reform, proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and supported by the ruling Morena party, aims to allow the election of judges, magistrates, and ministers by popular vote.Judges Martha Eugenia Magaña López from Morelos and Felipe Consuelo Soto from Chiapas granted these suspensions in response to lawsuits filed by members of the judiciary. The plaintiffs argue that the reform threatens judicial independence and workers’ rights, potentially leaving them in a state of defenselessness if approved.Ricardo Monreal, the newly appointed coordinator of Morena in the Chamber of Deputies, has vehemently rejected these judicial interventions, describing them as ‘inadmissible and improper’. Monreal stated, ‘This legislative majority categorically and energetically determines that it will not submit to the jurisdiction of the judge or judges that order it because they do not have the competence for it’. He accused the judiciary of attempting to conserve their privileges and hinder a ‘historic reform in favor of the population’.The suspensions have effectively prevented the Chamber of Deputies from initiating the discussion of the reform, which was scheduled for September 4. Judge Magaña López warned that if the authorities provide false information about compliance with the suspension, they may face sanctions under the Federal Penal Code.Opposition parties, including the PAN, have celebrated the judicial intervention. Héctor Saúl Téllez, a PAN federal deputy, stated that the reform as proposed would undermine judicial autonomy and independence, potentially making it vulnerable to ‘particular interests, economic and political interests, even of organized crime’.This confrontation between the legislative and judicial branches highlights the deep divisions and tensions in Mexican politics surrounding the proposed judicial reform. As both sides dig in, the path forward for this contentious legislation remains uncertain.
Key points
- Federal judges in Mexico have issued suspensions to halt the discussion of a controversial judicial reform.
- The ruling Morena party, led by Ricardo Monreal, has vowed to ignore these judicial orders, claiming they violate the separation of powers.
- The reform aims to allow the election of judges, magistrates, and ministers by popular vote, raising concerns about judicial independence.
- This confrontation has sparked a potential constitutional crisis between Mexico’s legislative and judicial branches.
Contradictions👾While federal judges have ordered the suspension of the judicial reform discussion, the legislative majority led by Morena has declared they will not comply with these orders, creating a direct conflict between judicial rulings and legislative intent.
