(Mexico City) Outgoing Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador defended his controversial judicial reform on Monday, responding to an unusual warning from the president of the Supreme Court.
The constitutional reform, which provides for the election of judges – including those of the Supreme Court – and magistrates by a “popular vote”, and which the ruling coalition will try to have adopted by the Senate from Tuesday, has for several weeks provoked demonstrations, diplomatic tensions with the United States and turbulence on the financial markets.
In a video posted on social media Sunday, Supreme Court President Norma Piña said that “the demolition of the judicial system is not the way forward” and that the election of judges would weaken their independence.
“Nothing will be destroyed, on the contrary,” replied Mr. Lopez Obrador, who will be replaced by President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, from the same party, on March 1.er october.
The president, who has often criticized the Supreme Court for holding back several of his reforms, ruled that Mr.me Piña was “within his rights” to oppose the judicial reform. “However, it is clear […] that corruption is rife in the judicial system and that it is urgent to clean it up in the interest of all, including [de ceux] who invest in Mexico,” he defended.
Analysts say investor concerns about the reform plan have contributed to a sharp drop in the value of the peso, which last week hit a two-year low against the dollar.
This has “nothing to do” with the judicial reform and is the consequence of “external factors”, Mr. Lopez Obrador said.
The controversial bill was passed last week by the president’s party and its ultra-majority allies in the lower house. MPs were forced to vote in a gymnasium after protesters blocked their chamber.