In Triumph for Mexico’s Outgoing President, Lawmakers Finalize Courts Overhaul

By Cassandra Garrison and Adriana Barrera

MEXICO CITY – On Wednesday, Mexico’s Senate passed a comprehensive judicial reform that will transform the country’s judiciary by allowing judges to be elected through popular vote. This significant change has raised concerns among critics who fear it could jeopardize the rule of law and negatively impact the economy.

The reform is seen as a substantial achievement for outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador during his last month in office.

The approval came after an intense legislative session, which was temporarily interrupted when protesters entered the Senate building. Ultimately, the ruling Morena party and its allies secured the necessary two-thirds supermajority vote for the reform, which has generated widespread protests, a strike among judicial workers, and fluctuations in the market.

Senators voted 86 to 41 in favor of the reform, met with cheers and applause from the ruling party.

Incoming President Claudia Sheinbaum expressed her approval on social media, commending lawmakers for a measure she believes reflects the will of the people. She stated that the era of corruption and privileges is ending, paving the way for a true democracy and the rule of law.

The final approval followed a heated debate as the ruling coalition began the session just one seat shy of the supermajority required to amend the constitution. An opposition lawmaker defied party lines and voted in support of the bill, while another was absent due to reports of detention intended to prevent his vote.

Leaders of Lopez Obrador’s Morena party dismissed allegations of misconduct.

"It’s a sad day for our Mexico," said Alejandro Moreno, the centrist opposition PRI party president. He criticized the means by which the reform was passed, describing them as deceitful and coercive.

Lopez Obrador, who has frequently clashed with senior judges, has maintained that the reform is essential for restoring integrity to the judiciary and ensuring it prioritizes the interests of the public over elite and criminal factions.

However, opponents argue that the reform will dangerously concentrate power within the Morena party. Key trading partners, including the United States and Canada, have raised concerns that the overhaul might undermine the USMCA trade agreement by creating legal uncertainties and deterring investment.

Market response to the reform has also been negative, with the Mexican peso depreciating about 17% since the elections on June 2, where Sheinbaum and Morena’s candidates achieved a decisive victory.

During Senate discussions, demonstrations erupted as protesters entered the building brandishing flags and chanting accusations of betrayal, forcing the session to relocate.

The core of the constitutional reform, which the lower house endorsed the previous week, proposes to implement the first-ever popular vote for over 6,500 judges and magistrates, including those on the Supreme Court. Only Bolivia has a similar electoral system in the Americas.

Additionally, the reform reduces the number of Supreme Court judges from 11 to 9, shortens their term limits to 12 years, removes the minimum age requirement of 35, and cuts the necessary work experience from 10 years to five.

Sheinbaum, set to take office on October 1, will need to navigate the fallout from this reform, which is likely to dominate the early months of her administration.