Mexico Senate Advances Controversial Judicial Reform

The Mexican Senate has narrowly approved a controversial judicial overhaul proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, which would allow voters to elect judges and remove 7,000 judges from their positions. The move has sparked nationwide protests, with demonstrators storming the Senate in opposition to the plan, citing concerns that it undermines judicial independence and the system of checks and balances. Among the dissenters, an opposition senator announced his support for the plan, which may have provided the crucial vote needed for its passage. Critics fear that the reform could lead to a judicial system beholden to political pressure. The proposal, having already cleared the lower house of Congress, now awaits approval from state legislatures, where López Obrador's party holds a majority. This overhaul reflects the significant influence of the ruling party following recent electoral victories.