Majority of Mexican State Legislatures Approve Judicial Overhaul, According to President – Reuters

Mexico City (Reuters) – A majority of state legislatures in Mexico have given their approval to a contentious judicial overhaul, as announced by the country’s president on Thursday. This marks a significant legislative milestone in the constitutional approval process.

The reform, which mandates that thousands of judges be elected through popular vote, garnered the backing of two-thirds of Senators following an intense all-night debate. It will take effect once it is published in the government’s official gazette.

Earlier in the month, the sweeping changes were passed by the lower house, with lawmakers from the leftist Morena ruling party and its allies providing the necessary votes, despite opposition efforts to block the measure.

To amend Mexico’s constitution, a two-thirds majority vote in Congress is required, along with approval from a majority of the country’s 32 state legislatures.

During his regular morning press conference, outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador revealed that 18 local legislatures had already approved the reform.

Lopez Obrador stated, “The reform to the judiciary has already been approved,” referring to the recent votes by the state legislatures.

The president, prioritizing the reform during his final month in office, expressed hope that its publication in the government gazette would occur on September 15, just one day before the nation celebrates its independence.