Mexico Ratifies Judicial Reform Amid Protests

Mexico has become the first country to allow voters to elect all judges, following a controversial judicial reform championed by outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. The constitutional amendment, which passed both houses of Congress and was ratified by a majority of state legislatures, has been criticized for potentially undermining judicial independence by allowing the ruling Morena party to dominate the judiciary. Critics argue that the reform could expose judges to pressures from powerful drug cartels and reduce checks and balances on the president’s power. The approval of the reform sparked widespread protests, with demonstrators storming the Senate chambers. López Obrador defends the measure as a necessary step to combat corruption and claims it will democratize the judiciary. The reform will be signed into law during Mexico's Independence Day celebrations, marking a significant change in the country’s judicial system.