Measure is part of a broad constitutional reform proposed by the left government; Opposition sees attempt to control the judiciary
With evidence of low popular participation, he held it on Sunday (1st) unpublished elections for the choice of judges across the country. About 2,680 positions were submitted to popular vote, including ministers of the Supreme Court and first instance judges. The measure is part of a broad constitutional reform proposed by the left government and defended as a step against corruption in. The vote, however, generated concerns between experts and part of the population. The main criticism is about the possible loss of independence of the judiciary in the face of political parties and organized crime.
During the election, observers reported low adhesion. According to employees of electoral sections in Mexico City, less than 10% of registered voters had attended the first half of the day. The official participation rate should be disclosed only at midnight (local time). “You don’t know the candidates except those who made videos on Tiktok,” said lawyer Leslie Moreno, 30, highlighting the difficulty in evaluating competitors.
The election also marked the return of former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018–2024) to the public scene after eight months away. He was the creator of the reform that allows the direct election of judges. Her successor, current President Claudia Sheinbaum, voted in the capital and defended the initiative as a mechanism to combat corruption and impunity. “Nothing more false,” she said about the accusations that the process benefits the ruling party.
Opposition, on the other hand, sees change as an attempt to control the judiciary by the executive. In protest, hundreds of people marched in Mexico City. “It was the last counterweight we had against totalitarianism,” said Ismael Novel, 58. Experts warn that the new format can facilitate the infiltration of organized crime in court. Margaret Satterthwaite, a UN special rapporteur for the independence of judges and lawyers, said that the direct election “brings the risk that the electorate does not choose based on merit.”
The government counteracts criticism by saying that corruption is already present in the cuts and that direct choice increases public scrutiny. To apply, it was necessary to have a diploma in law, professional experience, unblemished reputation and clean criminal record. The National Electoral Institute classified the claim as an “unprecedented challenge” and estimates that participation should vary between 13% and 20% of the electorate. In 2027, another 4,000 positions must go through a similar process.
*With information from AFP
Posted by Felipe Cerqueira
