Mexico City, Mexico – Mexico’s ruling Morena party and its allies on Wednesday advanced President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s controversial judicial reform amid efforts to stall debate on the bill, which forced lawmakers to meet in a Mexico City gymnasium instead of Congress. .
The reform passed Mexico’s lower house with 357 votes in favor, 130 votes against and zero abstentions.
The constitutional reform, which empowers the Mexican people to elect all judges and magistrates at the federal level through a popular vote, was introduced by López Obrador in February this year, sparking concerns and mass protests across the country.
The debate was held at the Magdalena Mixhuca Sports Complex, the largest sports center in Latin America, 15 minutes from Congress, after students and law workers blocked the entrance to the government building to stop the reform from being passed.
Since August 21, over 55,000 justice workers and judges have gone on indefinite strike to protest the reform, shutting down all courts and courtrooms in the country.
Critics call the reform an attack on the country’s democratic system.
However, after 17 hours, Morena and her allies, who control 74% of Congress, easily approved the bill, sending it to the Senate.
During his morning briefing on Wednesday, President López Obrador congratulated lawmakers who approved his initiative, asserting that despite criticism, the bill aims to cleanse the body of corruption.
“There is no reason to worry. I congratulate the legislators who are trying to clean the judiciary from corruption. Don’t forget that what is at stake is for the people to elect judges, magistrates and ministers,” he said.
However, López Obrador’s opponents, including his own political opposition, have denounced the initiative as an attempt to subvert the judiciary and consolidate Morena’s already overwhelming power.
“We will participate in the vote and our position will be against it, because this initiative means the subjugation and co-optation of the Federal Judiciary,” said conservative PAN party senator Guadalupe Murgía.
After Mexico’s general election in June, the ruling party has amassed huge power, securing the presidency and majorities in both houses of Congress.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum joined her party’s celebrations and assured that the reform would not jeopardize democracy or investment in the country.
“More democracy, more justice, more freedom. The judicial reform does not affect our trade relations or private national or foreign investments. On the contrary, there will be better and better rule of law and democracy for all,” she said.
The Senate is currently considering the reform for possible approval and is set to consider and debate the initiative between September 10 and 11.
Although Morena and her allies initially had 83 of the 128 lawmakers in the Senate (they need at least 85 to enjoy a qualified majority and 86 to fast-track the bill), two lawmakers from the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD) now disappeared, Morena has joined, leaving one less place to accelerate the reform.
The president of the Senate for Morena’s allied party, the Labor Party, Gerardo Fernández Noroña assured that they already have the last vote needed to ensure the reform and amendment of the Constitution.
“Yes, I would say we have enough, but you will see on voting day (…) I believe we will have more than two thirds,” he said.
