Mexican Senate Suspends Judicial Reform Debate

Mexican lawmakers were forced to suspend debate on a contentious judicial reform after protesters stormed the Senate building. The proposed amendment, pushed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, would allow voters to elect judges at all levels, marking a departure from the current system where judges are appointed based on merit. Critics, including human rights activists, legal experts, and international diplomats like US Ambassador Ken Salazar, argue the reform threatens the independence of the judiciary and could lead to corruption and influence from criminal groups. The reform has already passed the lower house but faces a tight vote in the Senate. Despite mass protests and economic concerns, López Obrador maintains that the reform is necessary to combat corruption and enhance democratic legitimacy. The situation has sparked significant political and diplomatic tensions, as well as economic instability, indicated by a drop in the peso's value.