A hotly contested judicial reform proposal that critics say will hurt Mexico’s business environment moved closer to becoming law late Sunday (8) as senators completed the bill’s committee stage.
According to the text of the reform, more than 7,000 judges and magistrates, including those of the Supreme Court, would be elected by popular vote, a change that, for those who oppose it, would weaken a crucial control over the Executive Branch.
President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has promoted the proposal, which has strained relations with the United States. Advocates of the reform argue that it will strengthen Mexican democracy and point to public support for the reforms in several polls.
Senators approved the bill in committees by 25 votes in favor and 12 against. The bill has already passed the Chamber of Deputies, and is expected to be voted on by the Senate plenary on Wednesday (11).
In the Senate, the ruling party and its allies need just one opposition senator to secure approval of the reform. Opposition senators have vowed to vote against the measure.
During Sunday’s debate, Supreme Court Chief Justice Norma Pina asked lawmakers to listen to the judges’ proposals before supporting any changes.
“Demolishing the judicial system is not the way forward,” Pina said in a televised speech, surrounded by officials from the Supreme Court and the federal judiciary.
Justice workers, civic groups and university students opposed to the reform have held days-long protests around the Senate and in several cities in Mexico, which has Latin America’s second-largest economy.
Other protesters took to the streets to show their support for the reform and the president. Authorities did not report any incidents during the protests.
López Obrador said the reform aims to “clean up corruption” in the judiciary. “What is the fear?” he asked on Sunday during a speech at a public event.
Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved the reform last Wednesday (4), after a marathon of sessions.
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This content was originally published in Mexico’s judicial reform advances to the Senate plenary on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
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