Ministers Batres and Pérez Dayán clash over protests on judicial reform

Mexico City. At the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) the protests against the process of reform of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (PJF) became more heated, as on Wednesday a group of workers in favor of the constitutional amendment emerged and with banners, shouts and slogans confronted the group that has been mobilizing against it for days. This provoked a confrontation between Minister Lenia Batres Guadarrama and Minister Alberto Pérez Dayán.

The protest began around 10:30 in the morning in the private session of the Second Chamber of the Court, presided by Pérez Dayán, when the secretaries of study and account took out sheets with messages against the reform. “Rejection of the judicial reform,” they said.

This led to a confrontation between Minister Lenia Batres and Pérez Dayán, after she expressed her solidarity with them and “with the Judiciary in general.”

Batres asked if it was an “institutional issue,” to which Pérez Dayán replied that it was not, but that he was giving free rein to freedom of expression.

“I don’t think this is the place to speak out for or against a decision by another political power in our country,” said Batres.

The President of the Chamber replied: “I am giving cause to freedom of expression, the same that you have referred to, Madam Minister, so that…”

“Yes, it is only you, President, who are speaking out and referring to that issue,” Batres replied.

Dayán replied, “I am free to do so, Madam Minister, or are you going to limit me? Are you going to limit me?”

“No, it is not part of the agenda. If you want, we can open the issue. Of course, we have been proposing that it be opened in the Plenary Session of the Court. If we open it here, let us open it and discuss the issue,” replied Batres.

“Well, well, okay. I express my solidarity with you and I join your cause. Thank you,” concluded Pérez Dayán.

Following the demonstration inside the chamber against the reform, another group of workers from the offices of ministers Lenia Batres, Yasmín Esquivel Mossa and Loretta Ortiz Ahlf demonstrated outside the chamber in favor of the constitutional changes promoted by the federal Executive.

Minister Batres asked Minister President Pérez Dayán to also allow the group in favor to demonstrate, just as those against were allowed.

“Judiciary, by popular vote!” read the messages on the banners they carried.

Upon entering, some workers shouted: “Here is the town, here is Mexico!”

Luis María Aguilar, one of the five members of the Second Chamber, asked them to demonstrate peacefully and told them that he is in favor of the Judiciary.

“We agreed that it was an opportunity to express their opinions, just as they are doing. If we start shouting, no one will understand. I am with the Judiciary precisely because it is one of the powers that emanates from the people,” he told them.

In a brief message, Pérez Dayán told them: “We thank you all for being able to freely express your point of view in peace and serenity. Remember that the institutions are above any of us. Once you have made use of this exercise and at the request of Minister Batres, under equal circumstances you have all had the opportunity to express to us what you think of the reform. Thank you all very much.”

Workers from both groups stood in the hallways on the second floor of the Court, outside the room, and confronted each other with shouts and slogans for and against the reform. The Directorate of Social Communication and security personnel of the Court did not allow the press to go up to the area.

However, in videos documented and distributed by the workers, another moment can be seen in which Minister Batres and Minister Pérez Dayán leave the room to calm the workers’ spirits. The minister even joined in chanting slogans in favor of the reform.

“When are you going to face the workers… There are more of us who are against it and we want to be heard, Minister. Aren’t these spaces? Where are we going, to Reforma?” workers shouted at Lenia outside the hall.

The minister replied: “Respect, respect. I am here to reassure my colleagues. I suggest that you proceed calmly, do not allow any of those who are provoking to provoke us here.”

“We are not provocateurs, we are workers,” they replied.

Then one group shouted: “Judiciary by popular vote! Judiciary by popular vote!”; the other group answered: “Judicial career, judicial career! If the people are informed, the reform will not pass, if the people are informed, the reform will not pass!”

Given the excitement of the moment, Pérez Dayán came out to mediate, mainly with the group against the reform: “Thank you, thank you all. We are extremely grateful for your support and the right we all have to express ourselves, it has been made very clear what we understand and what we want. In respect of what was worked on in the session, we would like to ask you, if possible, to avoid any confrontation and return everyone to our offices. I say this with my heart in my hand, extremely grateful for everything you have done for us, infinitely more than we have done for you.”

The workers applauded him and shouted: “Bravo, bravo Minister, Mr. Minister!”

“Thank you. May calm always be present,” Pérez Dayán replied.