He ruled out the costs of proselytism: “There are no campaigns that need money, which is also very important to know, what is proposed right now is campaigns via forums, via the Internet and official broadcasting spaces, nothing more.”
He also asked to wait to see what the Congress of the Union proposes and approves in the end, since it is currently in the open parliament forum phase.
In response to a specific question regarding the possible inflow of drug money to candidates for the judiciary, Batres said: “If there is no money, there is no financing of organized crime or anything.”
He said that what “should concern us all is a stronger judiciary that can resolve the justice problems of our population.”
The initiative for the Judiciary proposes changes related to the ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), which are: reducing the number of members from 11 to 9 members; reducing their term of office from 15 to 12 years; eliminating the life pension for current and future ministers, and adjusting their remuneration to the maximum limit established for the president.
Regarding the SCJN, it establishes that the first and second chambers of the highest court of justice be eliminated, and that only the Plenary Session may meet and that the sessions must be public.
In the case of the conformation of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF), it will be reduced to 5 magistrates, who will last six years and not five as currently established by law, and they will be replaced in a staggered manner and may not be elected for a new period; the Federal Judicial Council will also disappear and will be replaced by the Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal.
But the main point, which has caused confrontations between political parties, is that ministers, magistrates and judges should be elected by direct vote, since they are currently appointed.
The initiative establishes that an extraordinary election will be held on the first Sunday in June 2025 to renew, by vote, all the ministers of the SCJN, the Circuit magistrates, the District judges and the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF).
Ministers and magistrates will be elected at the national level in ordinary elections from 30 equal candidates, which will be proposed by the three Powers of the Union:
- The Executive Branch will propose up to 10 candidates
- The Legislative Branch will present by qualified majority up to 5 candidates for each Chamber.
- The Judiciary will propose up to 10 candidates by a majority of 6 votes through the Plenary Session of the Supreme Court.
The reform proposal states that in the case of the 1,633 Circuit magistrates and District judges, they will be elected in each of the 32 judicial circuits in ordinary elections from 6 equal candidacies per position.
“The Powers of the Union will ensure that their nominations fall on persons who have served with efficiency, capacity and integrity in the procurement or administration of justice, or who have distinguished themselves by their honorability, competence and professional background in the exercise of legal activity,” states López Obrador’s proposal.
The initiative in the Chamber of Deputies proposes that the Senator of the Republic will receive the applications and verify that the requirements established by law to be ministers and magistrates are met; then, he will send the list to the National Electoral Institute (INE), which will organize the election.
In addition, it establishes that campaigns will last 60 working days and there will be no pre-campaign period; it also states that public or private financing will not be allowed, since the contenders will have access to radio and television time to broadcast their proposals and may participate in debate forums organized by the INE or in those provided free of charge by some media outlet.
