Sheinbaum confronts US ambassador in Mexico over his warnings against judicial reform

The United States ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, affirmed that the election of judges by popular votethe proposed reform of the judicial branch by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is a risk for democracy and for the commercial relationship between Mexico and the United States.

However, Claudia Sheinbaum, the next president of Mexico, retorted to Salazar, and He reminded him that in 43 of the 50 districts in the United States, judges are elected by popular vote.

Ken Salazar expressed concern about the negative effects that the reform of the Judiciary could have in the country, in view of the T-MEC negotiations that are planned for 2026, in addition to the already existing problems with drug trafficking, corruption and organized crime.

“Very relevant information: in 43 of the 50 states of the United States of America, judges are elected by popular vote,” the president-elect of Mexico posted on X.

This is not the first time that the former mayor of Mexico City has defended the reform of outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, and she even assured that it does not represent a risk for foreign investment.

However, earlier, the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar warned that the reform that promotes elections in 2025 and 2027 to elect judges, magistrates and ministers of the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) is a bilateral risk.

“I believe that the debate over the direct election of judges in these times, as well as the fierce politics if the elections of judges in 2025 and 2027 were to be approved, threaten the historic commercial relationship that we have built, which depends on the confidence of investors in Mexico’s legal framework,” he said.

The diplomat also said that the reform of the Judicial Branch represents “a greater risk” for the functioning of Mexico’s democracy and could allow organized crime to interfere in the justice system.

Following this statement, the Canadian ambassador to Mexico, Graeme C. Clark, also revealed that Canadian investors have expressed concerns to him about judicial reform, and that it could be a factor in weakening the “bond of trust” between investors and the Mexican government.

“I heard these concerns this morning. So all I’m doing is listening to what our investors are saying about it and there is concern,” Clark said.

The statements by the American ambassadors come as rating agencies such as Fitch and entities such as CitiBanamex and Morgan Stanley have also warned about the risk of approving the reforms proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, particularly those of the Judiciary.

*With information from EFE.

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