Threats have not stopped judges from acting: Monica Soto

Mexico City. The direct and indirect threats, “including personal and family threats, that the magistrates of the Electoral Tribunal of the Judicial Branch of the Federation (TEPJF) have received for judging freely and in accordance with the law have not stopped them from acting with “absolute responsibility and without fear of criticism,” said the president of the highest electoral body, Mónica Soto Fregoso.

At the start of the public session, where the higher chamber will resolve the challenges presented by the PAN and Movimiento Ciudadano, the presiding magistrate reported that today formally concludes the electoral process that began 355 days ago, so “we will put an end to and give finality to the results of the vote cast on June 2, where 60 million 115 thousand 184 Mexicans freely expressed our will.

In a brief speech in which he expressed the closing of the 2024 electoral process, he defended that the TEPJF judges have acted with professionalism, seeking to impose the law over any other consideration. “The rule of law must prevail and democracy must prosper.”

He explained that in a period of two days, hundreds of emails, amicus curiae and “a large” number of challenges were received, exceeding the 8,600 admitted for processing. Of these, 4,720 went directly to the higher chamber and 3,942 to the regional chambers, while 1,700 appeals arrived through the National Electoral Institute, for a total of 10,300 challenges against the assignment of legislators.

Over the past three days, he added, this court has worked tirelessly to analyse, clarify, reflect on and act on the arguments put forward by the parties in the various means of appeal presented to this higher court.

And after the PAN filed a motion last Monday before the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) to intervene in the resolution of the criteria that the TEPJF should adopt, Soto Fregoso pointed out that the Constitution establishes that this court is the specialized body of the Judicial Branch of the Federation and the highest authority in electoral matters, so no other highest court can intervene.

Regarding the actors who challenged the law, including political parties, civil society organisations and citizens, he commented that among the arguments presented, many were based on a political perspective, others on social opinion and others were also based on economic considerations.

“All of them were heard in accordance with a broad exercise of citizen interaction that undoubtedly improves the quality and efficiency of the administration of justice, strengthens the protection of rights and contributes to increasing confidence in the daily exercise of this institution,” he noted.

However, he made it clear that the judges and the working teams acted with complete conviction that the main task of this court is to guarantee access to justice and the political-electoral rights of citizens, and therefore they do not respond to pressures or interpretations that distort the law.

In this session, the issues that will give finality to the allocation of seats by proportional representation are discussed, that is, the TEPJF is about to confirm the qualified majority of Morena and allies in the Chamber of Deputies, although Judge Janine Otálora has already indicated that she will vote against, so there will be no unanimity in the project presented by Judge Felipe de la Mata.