The Judicial Branch reform will be decided in the Senate. As of today, Monday, September 9, 2024, an opposition bloc of 43 senators has declared its opposition to the reform strong enough to stop it. Even if all are present, the official coalition with 85 votes is insufficient for a constitutional reform. They need one more vote, which they do not have yet, although the always nefarious leftist politician Fernandez Noroña shouts to the four winds that they do not require that additional vote because their over-representation gives them 66.6% of the total control.
For several days now, demonstrations have been held in support of the opposition bloc and the independence of the Judiciary. The last one yesterday, Sunday, turned into a permanent sit-in led by judiciary workers, students from various universities, and civil society organizations that have made it clear that they are unwilling to allow López Obrador to turn Mexico into his fiefdom.
The worst thing about this reform is that Mexico will face an unprecedented democratic crisis. A capture of the Powers of the Union by the Executive, as Chavez did in Venezuela. The catch is to open the door to replace ministers and magistrates with unconditional supporters and, if that were not enough, to introduce an “inquisitorial court” whose function will be to remove any member of the Judiciary without an adequate defense. This type of abuse of the judicial system is reminiscent of the dark years of the PRI, when impunity and authoritarianism were the norm.
The unconditional support for this reform by the ruling party is nothing more than blind obedience to a messianic leader who seeks to establish an authoritarian regime. Like the PRI of the 60s, 70s, and 80s, Morena seeks to consolidate power in the hands of a few, eliminating any institutional counterweight. There are no coincidences in politics, so it is no coincidence that Mario Delgado, president of Morena, has said that this reform is a “farewell gift” for López Obrador. A “gift” that only serves to feed his ego, his thirst for control, destabilization of the nation, and a cunning plan to perpetuate himself in power since he could modify the constitution to try again to become president of the Mexican Republic.
The direct impact of this reform on the economy is already becoming apparent and is a cause for grave concern. The value of the dollar is soaring, investments are slowing down, and there are setbacks in terms of respect for international agreements. Both the United States and Canada have expressed their worries about these changes, which could jeopardize investments and trade with Mexico. In this context, it seems that López Obrador is determined to repeat the same mistakes that led the PRI to undermine the country’s economic foundations.
Adding to the concerns is the second reform on the list: the proposed dissolution of the autonomous agencies. This clearly violates the T-MEC and could lead to serious economic and diplomatic difficulties. When viewed in its entirety, the reform to the Judiciary takes on an even more ominous aspect: the potential return to a system where power is concentrated in a single person, without any counterweights, reminiscent of the most repressive era of the PRI. This is a situation that should alarm us all.
For Mexicans, these reforms are a return to the years of total discretion, when the government had carte blanche to expropriate property, favor its friends, and persecute its enemies. To return to those times is to return to an extractive economy, where a few gain at the expense of the impoverishment of the majority. That model, so defended by the old PRI that today is called MORENA, is the real cause of inequality in Mexico, not the “neoliberalism” that López Obrador criticizes so much.
Reviving that system in a country with a population almost four times larger, a quarter of it living abroad, and in a globalized world in the process of regionalization, is a recipe for disaster. We are discussing a crisis and the could collapse of the productive structure and trade relations that sustain the Mexican economy. All in exchange for nothing more than satisfying the whims of a president who refuses to let go of the reins of power.
Editorial Board – Times Media Mexico
The Yucatan Times
CDMX – September 09, 2024
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Times Media Mexico editorial board comprises nine individuals from diverse nationalities and backgrounds. Each member is carefully chosen based on their extensive experience and unwavering objectivity.
