Mexico protests US ambassador’s criticism of proposed judicial reform

By Jorge Antonio Rocha

MEXICO CITY (AA)- The Mexican government sent a letter to US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar on Friday after the diplomat voiced his concerns regarding the proposed judicial reforms promoted by the government and his party.

"Lately, there have been acts of disrespect to our sovereignty, such as this unfortunate and reckless statement made by Ambassador Ken Salazar, but a diplomatic note of condemnation has already been issued," said Lopez Obrador during his morning briefing.

The reform seeks to have Supreme Court justices and magistrates elected by popular vote, which has caused a stir inside and outside the country, causing strikes by judges and judicial workers and concerns from foreign investors.

Two days after all courts and tribunals in the country were closed in protest to the reform, Salazar expressed in a statement on X his concerns regarding the bill that is about to be fast-tracked by the ruling party-controlled congress.

"Based on my lifelong experience supporting the rule of law, I believe popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico's democracy. Any judicial reform should have the right kinds of safeguards that will ensure the judicial branch will be strengthened and not subjected to the corruption of politics," the statement read.

During his morning briefing, Obrador condemned Salazar's statement, which he labeled as foreign meddling from the US government in Mexico's internal affairs. "For many years, the United States has applied a policy of interference in all of America," he said.

"It seems incredible, but we understood each other with President (Donald) Trump because event after having a belligerent campaign speech against Mexico and migrants, he was very respectful [...] and he did not offend us during his time as President," said the President.

Canadian investors and the US private sector have also expressed their concerns regarding the upcoming reform of their Latin American trade ally, claiming that Obrador's bill infringes on the trilateral trading agreement, the USMCA.