Mexico’s Opposition Aims to Halt Judicial Reform in the Senate By Reuters

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) – Opposition senators in Mexico are coming together to potentially block controversial judicial reforms championed by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, scheduled for a vote next week, indicating that its passage may not be as straightforward as initially anticipated.

The ruling party, Morena, along with its allies, currently lacks one vote for the two-thirds majority in the Senate necessary to approve the reform, which proposes to fundamentally change Mexico’s judiciary by allowing judges to be elected through popular vote.

While many analysts still believe the ruling coalition will manage to secure the required Senate vote, or that absences will minimize the vote count, the opposition is actively pushing back despite being weakened by internal disputes and declining public support.

On Friday, Alejandro Moreno, president of the opposition PRI party, stated in a radio interview that all 15 senators from his party would oppose the reform. This declaration followed a video posted by Daniel Barreda, a senator from the Citizens’ Movement (MC), in which he announced his decision to vote against the reform, supported by four other senators from his party.

Opposition lawmakers have also accused the ruling coalition of attempting to intimidate or buy support from senators, claims that Morena has refuted.

The reform was passed in the lower house this week amid protests, which led to the vote being relocated to a sports complex.

Morena and its allies hold 85 Senate seats, having gained two through negotiations with senators who switched party allegiance following the June elections.

Debate has intensified regarding whether the ruling coalition requires 85 or 86 votes, as two-thirds of the Senate’s 128 seats would mathematically round to 85.3. Adan Augusto Lopez, the leader of Morena in the Senate, has suggested that 85 votes may suffice, while the opposition and numerous legal experts argue that 86 votes are necessary. This discrepancy could lead to disputes if the final count is exactly 85 to 43.

The reform has raised alarms among investors and the U.S. ambassador to Mexico, who express concerns that it could undermine a critical check and balance on the executive branch and negatively impact the business environment in Latin America’s second-largest economy.