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August 28, 2024

Mexico Freezes Diplomatic Relations After U.S. and Canada Criticize Judicial Reform Plan
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In Mexico, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has paused relations
with the U.S. and Canadian embassies after the two countries criticized
Mexico's efforts to reform its judiciary system. Part of the reform
calls for judges to be elected by popular vote. Mexico's President-elect
Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1, has defended the
proposed changes.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum: "What's best? Justices of the Supreme
Court elected by the Senate of the Republic or by the people of Mexico?
Who says the people of Mexico? Raise your hand. This is democracy -
democracy to elect the president, democracy for lawmakers, and democracy
for the judiciary, too, so that it's a judiciary at the service of the
people."

Last week, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar criticized Mexico's judicial
reform proposal, saying that "popular direct election of judges is a
major risk to the functioning of Mexico's democracy."


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