WASHINGTON.- The controversy judicial reform approved in Mexico causes “deep concern” in the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) which, he warned, will keep the application of the new rule under surveillance.
He pointed out that the monitoring of the reform, which establishes the popular election of judges, aims ensure that the independence of the Judiciary is respected.
The IACHR defends judicial independence
“Tending towards the democratization of justice cannot go against another basic principle of the inter-American system, which is that of judicial independence“Warned Andrea Pochak, the organization’s rapporteur for Mexico in a hearing.
🚨IACHR DISARMS THE JUDICIAL REFORM WITH QUESTIONS🚨 Andrea Pochak, Rapporteur of the IACHR, poses key questions to the Mexican State 💥:
A) What diagnosis was considered for this judicial reform?
B) Why did the reform NOT include the Prosecutor’s and Defender’s Offices and only cover the… pic.twitter.com/Z7kJ7IfFtz— LuisCardenasMX (@LuisCardenasMx) November 12, 2024
The hearing was held in Washington after the complaint filed with the IACHR by judges and workers of the Judicial Branch against the reform enacted on September 15 for the now former president Andrés Manuel López Obradorwhich has the support of the new president, Claudia Sheinbaum.
The Mexican government maintains that citizens should be able to elect judges and defends the constitutionality of the reform because it was approved by a large majority in Congress.
Tunden a Sheinbaum desde la @IACHR pic.twitter.com/SioFDp2SvY
— Carlos Torres (@CarlosTorresF_) November 12, 2024
Interference of the Executive Branch in the Judiciary
However, judicial personnel denounce the interference of the Executive in Justicesince the ruling party will promote its candidates for the judicial elections that will begin in 2025.
“The Commission is clearly very worried about this situationfor this judicial reform,” said Pochak after listening to the versions of the plaintiffs and the government.
Emotions running high as 🇲🇽 Mexican federal judges & judicial branch workers protest outside the Organization of American States (OAS) in Washington vs Mexico’s judicial overhaul involving massive layoffs & judges elected by popular vote.
— José Díaz Briseño (@diazbriseno) November 12, 2024
The rapporteur pointed out that any reform aimed at democratizing the judicial system must respect basic principles such as the meritocracy of judges and avoid interference from other powers.
The IACHR will monitor the application of the judicial reform
He also warned that similar reforms in other countries showed that there are risks of a greater delegitimacy of the judicial system due to the elections of judges.
Commissioner of the @IACHR He described Mexico’s judicial reform as an example of abusive and authoritarian constitutionalism.
“When a government tries to dismantle the counterweights, – it has been seen in the authoritarianisms of our time throughout the world -, and the case of Mexico is… pic.twitter.com/QEdkt0POs0
— Clips SCJN (@SCJN_Clips) November 12, 2024
Pochak said that the IACHR will monitor the application of the reform and committed to maintain permanent dialogue with the State because Mexico has always been very respectful of the inter-American human rights system.
Strong criticism against judicial reform in Mexico
For his part, much more critical, Commissioner Carlos Bernal said that the Mexican judicial reform is “a textbook example of abuse of constitutionalism” because the government is trying to dismantle the checks and balances on the Executive.
I want to see how @Claudiashein @senadomexicano @Mx_Diputados They answer the questions asked by Commissioner Andrea Pochak pic.twitter.com/3uWCdjJCKB
— Lupita Hinojosa (@lupita_hinojosa) November 12, 2024
“A government that sweeps the presidency of the Republic at the polls and sweeps the polls for all popularly elected positions, is it not suspected that I also want the popular election of judges?”, asked.
Minister Juan Luis González Alcántara Carrancá reveals that AMLO’s annoyance with the SCJN👨🏻⚖️ was because he had to account for public spending 💰- via @realidadsietemx
— Carlos Torres (@CarlosTorresF_) November 12, 2024
Claudia Sheinbaum criticizes the IACHR hearing
In her morning conference, the Mexican president, Claudia Sheinbaum, questioned the IACHR for hosting this hearing.
He defended that “Mexico is a free, sovereign and independent country and the people of Mexico decideaccording to the Constitution, what are the constitutional reforms.”
“The speed is striking, from my point of view. There are cases that go to the Inter-American Commission that take years to be attended to and now this reform of the Judiciary It didn’t even take weeks. “How much interest!” he expressed.
Gen24 and Minister Laynez ready for the hearing of the @IACHR where the so-called judicial reform will be discussed. pic.twitter.com/lyurO0Xs19
— Jimena Warnholtz (@JimenaWarnholtz) November 12, 2024
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