Andrea Becerril
The newspaper La Jornada
Sunday, August 25, 2024, p. 8
Even if they retire with their million-dollar pensions, It will be cheaper for the country for them to leave
commented senators and deputies of Morena regarding the ruling of the judicial reform that allows the current ministers of the Court to keep their salaries, provided that they submit their early resignation before the expiration of the call that the Senate will issue this year, for the election of the judges.
This is one of the changes made to President López Obrador’s initiative, which is reflected in the draft opinion that will be voted on in San Lázaro this Monday.
Deputy Hamlet García Almaguer (Morena) and Senator Rogelio Israel Zamora (PVEM) explained that this is an early resignation, which would come into effect on August 31, 2025, one day before the nine ministers elected by the citizens take office.
The president of the Court, Norma Piña, and the other ministers whose term has not ended when the judicial reform is enacted, could obtain the life pension and the bonus of almost half a million pesos under that condition.
With the exception of Luis María Aguilar, who is about to conclude his term and is retiring with all his assets, the other members of the Court have three options: They are competing in the June 2025 election, and if they win, they will remain in office to complete the years they have left, but without a pension. The other option is that they do not win and are left without a position and without a pension.
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Their alternative is not to register for the electoral process, but to resign before the end of the call for elections issued by the Senate, thereby maintaining their prerogatives and privileges, García Almaguer stressed.
The seventh transitory article of the draft opinion on judicial reform establishes that none of the members of that power may receive a remuneration higher than that received by the President of the Republic and also provides a way out for the current ministers.
We don’t like that they can leave with a lifetime pension, but we don’t want to be imposing; let them decide and choose their path.
said the Morena member. He explained that the ministers will remain in office for almost another year, until the new judges take office, who will be five women and four men.
Those who resign early, added Rogelio Israel Zamora, will be able to enjoy their pension at 100 percent for the two years following their departure, and then at 80 percent until they die.”
It is a life pension, which we consider excessive, along with other benefits, but we believe it is an acquired right. Some have argued that it is not legal to take away these rights and that they could use this as a pretext to file appeals in international organizations with the intention of sabotaging the constitutional reform.
He clarified that it applies only to ministers, since judges and magistrates will be able to retire if they already meet the requirements. Those who want to continue will be able to run for office without going through the selection process, since they will have automatic pass
to the election in June next year,” he explained.
