Mexico City announced on Friday that it is lodging a diplomatic protest against what it deems as U.S. interference following remarks made by the American ambassador criticizing a proposed Mexican judicial reform requiring judges to stand for election. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador condemned the comments as an affront to national sovereignty and interference in domestic affairs, urging against a repeat of such actions. U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar had expressed concerns that the reform jeopardizes Mexico’s democracy and the longstanding commercial ties between the two nations.
The diplomatic note from Mexico characterized the ambassador’s remarks as an unwelcome intrusion and a breach of Mexico’s sovereignty. The potential implementation of the reform, which has attracted criticism from investors and financial institutions, has led to a decline in the value of the Mexican peso. Banking institutions like Morgan Stanley and Citibanamex cautioned against the reform, citing increased risk and potential threats to liberal democracy.
Salazar stressed the critical role of an independent and non-corrupt judiciary in upholding democracy, cautioning that the proposed changes could enable criminal elements to exploit inexperienced politically motivated judges, creating long-lasting economic and political instability. The reform has sparked protests by federal court workers and judges across Mexico.
The reform, if approved by the newly elected congress in September, would enable individuals with legal backgrounds and a few years of experience to become judges through popular vote. Concerns have been raised that this could lead to the appointment of politically biased judges by the ruling party, undermining the balance of power and checks and balances. López Obrador has clashed with the judiciary, accusing them of being part of a “mafia” and advocating for the reform to combat corruption in the judicial system.
While both sides agree on the need to address corruption in the judiciary, Salazar highlighted the potential risks associated with electing judges directly, cautioning against the implications for Mexico’s democracy and the North American economic integration. The proposed reforms are set to be debated by the incoming congress, where López Obrador’s party holds a majority, in the coming months.