El Presidente Andrés Manuel López Obrador, anuncia paus en relaciones diplomáticas

Diplomatic “Pause” Triggered by U.S. Concerns

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a pause in diplomatic relations with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico. The measure was later extended to Canada as well, after U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar publicly warned that Mexico’s judicial reform poses risks.

The dispute centers on the reform’s plan to change how judges are selected—especially popular election of judges—which the U.S. says may undermine judicial independence and transparency, and may fail to ensure that corruption is adequately addressed.

U.S. Response

Ambassador Salazar said the United States respects Mexican sovereignty and continues supporting Mexico’s commitment to strengthening the rule of law. However, he reiterated U.S. concerns that the proposed changes—including a delayed timetable—do not guarantee improvements.

He emphasized that the U.S. remains particularly concerned about the election mechanism and what it could mean for the judiciary.

Sheinbaum Backs López Obrador

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum supported López Obrador’s decision, saying she will define Mexico’s future relationship with the U.S. and Canada on October 1. She also argued that matters such as judicial design are exclusively for Mexicans to decide.

She rejected calls to request Ambassador Salazar’s departure, while insisting that dialogue will continue despite the disagreements.

International and U.S. Legislative Pressure

The controversy expanded beyond diplomacy:

• In the U.S., lawmakers across party lines urged López Obrador and Sheinbaum to adjust the reform to better protect:
  • judicial autonomy
  • professional qualifications
  • efforts to combat corruption
  • investor confidence

Mentioned lawmakers include Benen Cardin, Tim Kaine, Jim Rich, and Marco Rubio.

• International criticism also came from the International Association of Judges (Rome), which called the reform deeply concerning—especially regarding anonymous powers and the potential weakening of safeguards for judges, their families, and judicial independence.

Mexico’s Legislative Approval

Despite protests and criticism, Mexico’s Chamber of Deputies approved the judicial reform early, following a long session:

• The reform passed general and particular approval with 22 votes in favor and 18 against.
• Out of 330 reservations, only one was approved, creating a category of “anonymous judges” to handle cases tied to organized crime, including drug trafficking and terrorism-linked crimes.

After approval, the bill moved toward discussion in the plenary session of the new legislature, which will begin the following Sunday.

Judicial Workers Protest and Disruptions Continue

The reform triggered strong backlash from judicial workers:

• Strikes and protests continued, including disruptions at judicial institutions and planned mobilizations for September 1 (when the new legislature is sworn in).
• At the Supreme Court of Justice, after protests by court workers, the court held an unusual vote and—by majority—suspended a session “in solidarity,” rather than proceeding.
• Protests occurred in multiple states, including marches and symbolic actions against the reform.

Economic Fallout and Uncertainty

Political tension was accompanied by economic concern:

• The Mexican peso weakened after the reform’s approval in the Chamber of Deputies.
• The dollar briefly rose above 20 pesos, then ended the day around 19.66 pesos.
• Several countries and international organizations reportedly expressed concern about the reform’s risks.

Morena’s Position on Timing

Ricardo Monreal (next Morena coordinator in San Lázaro) said Morena’s parliamentary stance is that the reform would not necessarily be approved on September 1. He argued that September 1 would primarily involve installing the legislature and completing procedural steps, and said Morena would proceed carefully to avoid rushing and undermining the legislative process.

Presenters or Contributors

• President Andrés Manuel López Obrador
• Ambassador Ken Salazar
• Claudia Sheinbaum
• Dr. Shinba (as transcribed in subtitles)
• Agustín Velasco
• Norma Piña
• Juan Luis González Alcántara
• Yasmín Esquivel
• Loreta Ortiz
• Luis María Aguilar
• Jorge Pardo Rebolledo
• Ana Ros
• Javier (as transcribed in subtitles)
• Lenia Abres (as referenced in subtitles)
• Ricardo Monreal
• Benen Cardin
• Tim Kaine
• Jim Rich
• Marco Rubio