Mexico Mexican federal judges strike against judicial reform

Mexican federal judges have decided to go on indefinite strike against a planned judicial reform. From Wednesday, the approximately 1,700 judges want to lay down their work until the legislative initiative for the direct election of judges by the people is withdrawn, as the National Association of Federal Judges announced after a vote. The controversial initiative was presented by left-wing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador.

López Obrador, whose six-year term in office in the Latin American country ends in just over a month, described the strike as illegal. He accuses the judiciary of serving economic and criminal interests. Future President Claudia Sheinbaum also supports her political mentor's reform. Among other things, the reform provides for all federal judges - including those at the Supreme Court - to be gradually replaced and elected.

The reform is to be passed in September

The ruling party Morena plans to push through the constitutional amendment in the new Congress, whose legislative period begins on September 1. Although the future distribution of seats has not yet been determined, Morena hopes to achieve the necessary two-thirds majority. The opposition sees this as a further attempt by the government to weaken the independent institutions.

Thousands of employees of the judiciary had already gone on strike against the reform in several federal states on Monday. They demonstrated with placards in front of the federal courts for the independence of the judiciary and for the protection of their labor rights.