Sheinbaum analyzes judicial reform with legislators

Mexico City. President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum met this afternoon with Morena legislators and her team in charge of analyzing the reform of the Judicial Branch. Upon leaving the transition house, Senator Ricardo Monreal, and Deputies Ignacio Mier and Gerardo Fernández Noroña, stated that despite the position of the United States ambassador, Ken Salazar, the analysis of the reform continues, as well as its vote for next week, while they rejected “external interference” or interventionism in the drafting of Mexican laws.

In the afternoon, the American diplomat said that this reform “represents a risk for the functioning of Mexico’s democracy and the integration of our economies under the USMCA.”

Asked about the position of the ambassador of the neighboring country, Monreal said that he respects Salazar’s opinion, but clarified that he does not share it and considered that he may not have read the entire initiative, so he will send him the articles “that guarantee that what he is concerned about will not happen. Ken Salazar’s statement is simply part of the opinion of a foreign representative and we have decided to continue with the analysis, with the dialogue, with the judicial reform.”

Indicating that Salazar had changed his opinion from what he had a few months ago, he recalled that in the United States, judges, sheriffs and fire chiefs are elected.

-So they will ignore the statement?- the legislator was asked.

-We don’t have to pay attention to her, we simply respect her. The day that he or some foreigner has the capacity to legislate in Mexico, they will be able to do so.

He also noted that the US reaction is normal, but reiterated that “we will continue to defend the autonomy of our country. We do not believe in external interference in the formation and construction of our regulatory system. We do not admit or accept any type of intervention in the drafting of our laws, nor do we intervene in the drafting of their laws.”

No foreigner can intervene in the formation, construction and drafting of our legal norms, the senator concluded.

He also outlined that the reforms to the Judicial Branch will continue in the following years. “There have been changes and starting on the 26th the discussion and debate will begin in the Constitutional Affairs Committee. I believe that there will still be reforms. For example, I am sure that a paragraph will be included on judges without a face or judges without identity in the case of crimes committed by organized crime to guarantee the life of the judges and their families.”

Separately, the Morena coordinator in San Lázaro was asked if the statements of the US ambassador could change the reform, as he is the voice of the government of that country. Mier ruled out any impact because “the voice of Mexico is more powerful, more potent.”

Referring to the American concerns raised by Salazar, he said that “there must be respect, just as we have respect for the internal, institutional life of the United States.”