President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on Tuesday that the Mexican government paused its relationship with the U.S. and Canadian embassies in the country. This decision came after their ambassadors criticized a proposed judicial reform that he supports.
Lopez Obrador clarified in a press conference that the freeze in the relationship was with the embassies and not with the countries themselves.
The president is advocating for a reform to elect judges, including Supreme Court justices, through popular vote. A committee in Mexico’s Congress approved the proposal on Monday, opening the path for it to be finalized when the newly elected Congress starts in September.
Supporters believe the reform will enhance democracy and improve a system that they feel doesn’t serve the public. On the other hand, critics argue that it will tilt power in favor of the executive branch, hinder judges’ careers, and make the courts more susceptible to criminal influence.
U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar previously criticized the reform, calling it a “major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy” and warning about potential impacts on the U.S.-Mexico trade relationship.
Canada’s ambassador to Mexico, Graeme Clark, also expressed concerns about investments in light of the reform.
After Lopez Obrador’s remarks, Salazar shared a diplomatic note from the embassy dated August 23, emphasizing their support for the concept of judicial reform in Mexico while expressing significant concerns about the election of judges through popular vote.
Lopez Obrador condemned Salazar’s interference in internal politics and emphasized the need for the embassies to respect Mexico’s independence before resuming their relationship.
The U.S. diplomatic note highlighted their utmost respect for Mexico’s sovereignty as the situation impacted Mexico’s currency, the peso.
The peso experienced a 1.65% decline in early afternoon trading, influenced by developments following the June elections in which Lopez Obrador’s preferred successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, won the presidency. This victory gave their Morena party and allies a strong majority in the lower house and nearly a supermajority in the Senate, essential for amending the Constitution, including the proposed judicial reform.
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