Mexico's Judicial Reform Bill Advances in Congress

Mexico's Congress has approved a contentious judicial reform bill in the lower house, which aims to elect all federal judges by popular vote. The proposal, driven by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador and supported by his successor, Claudia Sheinbaum, has sparked widespread protests and a strike by Supreme Court justices and judicial workers, who argue it undermines judicial independence. Critics fear the reform could allow criminal groups to influence the judiciary and weaken Mexico's democracy by consolidating power within the ruling party. The measure now heads to the Senate, where it needs one more vote to pass, before potentially being approved by state congresses. The reform includes reducing Supreme Court justices from 11 to 9 and shortening their terms from 15 to 12 years. The proposed changes have also strained diplomatic relations with the United States and concerned foreign investors.