Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced Tuesday a pause in diplomatic relations with the embassies of the United States and Canada. According to “CNN“Critical statements by ambassadors from both countries on López Obrador’s controversial plans to reform the judicial system.
Constitutional changes under surveillance
In his daily press conference, López Obrador explained that the diplomatic “pause” only affects embassies and not the countries involved, reports “News week“He stressed that relations will not be restored until diplomats are “respectful of Mexico’s independence and sovereignty.”
López Obrador’s reform proposal calls for judges to be appointed through popular elections, as part of a broader package of constitutional changes. The changes, which affect areas such as pensions and the energy sector, still need to be approved by both houses of Mexico’s Congress with a two-thirds majority. Critics fear the reforms could weaken the separation of powers and lead to the dissolution of independent institutions, CNN reports.
Possible negative impact on business relations
U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar expressed concern last week that the direct election of judges poses “a significant risk to the functioning of Mexican democracy.” He stressed that the judiciary must be strengthened and not “exposed to political corruption.” According to Newsweek, Salazar also warned of possible negative impacts on trade relations between the two countries.
Canadian Ambassador to Mexico Graeme Clark has expressed concern about the potential impact of the reforms on investment, pointing to the “disappearance” of some autonomous institutions, CNN reports. López Obrador, for example, is seeking to eliminate the Institute for the Protection of Personal Data, which opened an investigation against him in February after publishing the personal phone number of a New York Times journalist.
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