Mexico pauses relations with US and Canadian embassies over criticism of judicial reforms

Americas, News August 29, 2024 , by IRIA No Comments

4 minute read

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador announced on August 27, 2024, that he has put ties with the United States Embassy in Mexico City “on pause” following criticism from U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar regarding his administration’s proposed judicial reform.

“They have to learn to respect Mexico’s sovereignty, it’s no small matter,” Lopez Obrador stated during his daily press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City.

The president clarified that ties with the embassy will remain paused until the diplomatic outpost clarifies its stance on the reform initiative. However, he emphasized that the bilateral relationship with the U.S. government continues as usual.

Lopez Obrador is advocating for a reform to elect judges, including Supreme Court justices, by popular vote. This proposal was passed by a committee in the lower house of Mexico’s Congress earlier this week, setting the stage for its approval when the newly elected Congress convenes in September.

The current Mexican administrator argues that the reforms will enhance democracy and address a system they believe fails to serve the public. Critics, however, argue that it will concentrate power in the executive branch, disrupt judicial careers, and make the courts more vulnerable to criminal influence.

On August 22, Salazar expressed concerns that the proposal to elect judges by popular vote, rather than through political appointments as is currently the practice, posed a risk to democracy and could potentially impact U.S.-Mexico trade relations.

My statement on Mexico’s judicial reform proposal pic.twitter.com/fjOVgk7qRn
— Embajador Ken Salazar (@USAmbMex) August 22, 2024

Salazar said that he believes a “popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.” Salazar stressed that judicial reforms should ensure the judiciary would be strengthened and not “subject to the corruption of politics.”

Several U.S. lawmakers also expressed their concern on the issue, saying judicial reform will jeopardize “critical economic and security interests shared by our two nations” including a regional trade pact.

“We are also alarmed that several other constitutional reforms currently under discussion may contradict commitments made in the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Trade Agreement, which is scheduled for review in 2026,” said a statement released by the US Senate’s Foreign Relations Committee.

Canada’s ambassador in Mexico, Graeme Clark also warned of investor worries due to the proposed judicial reforms and voiced concern about the “disappearance” of some autonomous bodies.

In response to these remarks, Lopez Obrador’s administration sent a diplomatic note to the United States and Canada. After which, Salazar posted a diplomatic note from the embassy, dated August 23, stating, “The United States supports the concept of judicial reform in Mexico, but we have significant concerns that the popular election of judges would neither address judicial corruption nor strengthen judicial independence.”