Vote by show of hands supports judicial reform

Ivan Evair Saldana, Alma Munoz, Emir Olivares and Cesar Arellano

The newspaper La Jornada
Monday, September 2, 2024, p. 13

Taking advantage of the presence of thousands of people in the capital’s Zócalo during his sixth Government Report, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador yesterday submitted to a vote of the citizens, by show of hands, the popular election of judges, magistrates and ministers, as proposed by the reform to the Judicial Branch of the Federation (PJF) that he proposed to Congress. The winner was Yeah.

While the Tabasco native did the exercise, the people shouted out: Out with Pineapple, out with Pineapple, out with Pineapple!in reference to the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), Norma Lucía Piña Hernández.

With the result of the consultation, López Obrador sent a message to the United States. On August 22, through Ambassador Ken Salazar, the government of the neighboring country to the north declared that the election of judges is a risk for democracy in Mexico.

This helps us understand the feelings of the people. And also so that our neighbors and friends in the United States can internalize it; I say this with all due respect. And let them not forget that democracy in the United States began with the people electing the judges.he noted.

Moments before, the president accused that in the PJF there is a predominance corruption and influence peddling and that is why on February 5th he sent to Congress a package of 20 reforms, 18 of them constitutional, including the judicial reform, to restore to the Magna Carta the revolutionary and popular meaning that it had since its original drafting in 1917.

He added that the initiatives They are clearly different and opposed to the reforms that were approved during the 36 years of the disastrous neoliberal period. because they did not benefit the people, but rather a rapacious minority.

The objective of the reform to the PJF is that it impart justice for the benefit of all and are not at the exclusive service of organized crime and white-collar crime, but at the service of the people.

Then, smiling, he said that he would hold a consultation on the election of judges, even if his opponents criticize him, because he finds it very funny “because they get so angry and even make fools of themselves.”

“Let’s see, raise your hand if you think it’s better for ministers and judges to be chosen by the President and the senators. Raise your hand. I don’t see anyone.

Raise your hand if you think it is better for judges and magistrates to be elected by the people. Lower your hand. Abstentions, raise your hand. There are no abstentions.he said, highlighting that this is the feeling of the people.