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Mexican Congress Approves Major Judicial Overhaul
Discover how the Mexican Congress has approved a significant judicial overhaul, aiming to enhance the legal system’s efficiency and transparency. Explore the implications of this reform on justice and governance in Mexico.
Major Judicial Overhaul Approved by Mexican Legislators
In a significant move, legislators in Mexico’s lower house of Congress have approved a comprehensive proposal aimed at restructuring the entire judiciary. This initiative marks a pivotal step towards transitioning the country to a system where nearly all judges would be elected to their positions. The vote represents one of the most ambitious judicial reforms in any major democracy in recent decades, raising pressing concerns about whether these changes will enhance the judiciary’s effectiveness or lead to a politicized system favoring the ruling Morena party and its allies.
Currently, judges in Mexico are appointed based on their specialized training and qualifications. The approved bill now requires the lower house to refine over 600 specific details before it is forwarded to the Senate. Interestingly, the ruling coalition in the Senate is just one seat short of achieving a supermajority, though the passage of this measure is anticipated.
On the day prior to the vote, discussions surrounding the initiative took a dramatic turn when eight out of the 11 Supreme Court justices voted to suspend sessions for the remainder of the week. This action was taken in solidarity with judicial employees at the high court, who initiated a walkout earlier that week. Their strike joined hundreds of judicial workers and federal judges across Mexico, who had already commenced an indefinite strike the previous month in protest against the proposed reforms.
In a bid to delay the vote, the striking workers formed a human chain, attempting to block access to Mexico’s lower house. However, in a surprising turn of events, legislators relocated their meeting to a sports complex and continued with the debate, which frequently devolved into tense exchanges of accusations.
After an extensive session that extended well into the early hours of Wednesday morning, a total of 359 lawmakers present cast their votes in favor of the judicial overhaul, while only 135 opposed it.