Very relevant information: in 43 of the 50 states of the United States of America, judges are elected by popular vote.
— Dr. Claudia Sheinbaum (@Claudiashein)
August 23, 2024
In a press conference on Thursday, Ambassador Ken Salazar said that the judicial reform proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador puts the historic commercial relationship between the United States and Mexico at risk.
“I think, in my opinion, the debate over direct election of judges, as well as the fierce politics if judicial elections are approved in 2025 and 2027, threaten the historic business relationship we have built. Direct elections can make it easier for cartels to take advantage of inexperienced judges with political motivations,” the official said.
The Canadian ambassador to Mexico joined in his criticism; in an interview with EFE, Canadian Ambassador In Mexico, Graeme C. Clark said that Canadian investors have expressed concern about the judicial reform promoted by Andrés Manuel López Obrador.
“I have heard these concerns this morning. So, all I am doing is listening to what our investors are saying about this and there is concern,” the official told the news agency.
So far, President López Obrador has not responded to the ambassadors’ allegations.
Earlier, the president-elect of Mexico assured in her midday press conference that the new way of electing members of the Judiciary will put an end to “presidential finger-pointing.”
He also said that it is false that the opinions of specialists were not taken into account for judicial reform; he gave the example that new sections were created based on the forums.
