This Tuesday, the discussion of the constitutional reform on indigenous peoples was to take place, which is included in the package that Morena supporters want to approve before the end of Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s six-year term.
Ricardo Monreal, Morena’s coordinator in the Chamber of Deputies, had said that this discussion would take place this week.
“This modified article aims to fully recognize and guarantee the rights of indigenous and Afro-Mexican peoples and communities. We are finally going to recognize this circumstance,” he said.
On Sunday night, senators approved in committee the controversial proposal to reform the justice system, which, among other things, proposes that judges, magistrates and ministers of the Supreme Court be elected by popular vote.
With 25 votes in favor and 12 against, the ruling was endorsed by legislators from the Constitutional Affairs and Legislative Studies committees. The project, which had already received approval from the Chamber of Deputies, was referred to the Senate for final discussion.
The proposal, pushed by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, recently sparked a work stoppage in the government and has generated tensions with Mexico’s two main trading partners – the United States and Canada – and an abrupt depreciation of the currency.
Critics fear the changes to the system could weaken one of the checks on presidential power, harming the business climate in Latin America’s second-largest economy.
-With information from the Reuters agency.
