In Mexico City, the lower house of Congress passed legislation requiring judges to stand for election, marking a major judicial overhaul. The ruling party claims current judges are corrupt and wants all 7,000 judges to be elected. Critics fear this will undermine judicial independence and question the feasibility of holding such elections without interference from criminal groups.
President López Obrador has been pushing for these changes to eliminate oversight agencies and speed up his policy agenda. The bill narrowly passed in the lower chamber and is expected to face a tough vote in the Senate. Protesters have been demonstrating against the overhaul, and tensions escalated when ropes were used to block legislators from entering Congress.
The proposed changes would dramatically alter Mexico’s judicial system, allowing anyone with minimal qualifications to run for judgeships. This has raised concerns about the potential for corruption and a lack of accountability. The reforms could also limit the courts’ ability to challenge government decisions and consolidate power for the ruling party.