June 11, 2024 14:55 GMT
MEXICO: AMLO Speaks Out On Judicial Reform, Says 'Urgent' Changes Needed
MEXICO
Wires carrying comments from Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) regarding the prospect of judicial reforms in the wake of the landslide win for Claudia Sheinbaum and the leftist MORENA party in the 2 June general election. AMLO claims that the need for judicil reform is 'urgent', and that the reforms could be ready in September. Also claims that some reforms are 'already happening'. His comments appear to somewhat contradict Sheinbaum's comments from 10 June, when the president-elect claimed that a consultation would be held to discuss any judicial changes. However, the more abrupt AMLO has claimed that 'enough is already known' to progress with them.
- The proposed reforms would see elected judges replace those appointed to the Supreme Court, with some fearing this could lead to a populist swing that would erode democratic institutions and leave the Mexican legal system vulnerable to shifts in public opinion.
- AMLO went on to criticise Supreme Court President Norma Pina, claiming that she has met with opposition party leaders in secret, and that "she is serving the powerful and not the people." Claims that the judiciary "is a branch with a lot of corruption, hijacked by organized crime and white-collar crime, and it is not serving the people."
- Sheinbaum does not take office until 1 October, but already the prospect of a supermajority in both chambers of parliament led by MORENA, and AMLO's aggressive stance towards the judiciary, is rattling confidence in Mexico's democratic institutions.
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