• Protests in Mexico as controversial judicial reform passed
• Supporters argue the change will hold judges more accountable to the public
• Critics warn it could erode the system of checks and balances
• The bill’s passage has sparked protests and strikes

Protests in Mexico as controversial judicial reform passed

Mexico’s Senate has approved a controversial judicial reform that will see judges elected by popular vote.

Supporters argue the change will hold judges more accountable to the public, but critics warn it could erode the system of checks and balances, giving more power to the ruling Morena party.

The bill’s passage has sparked protests and strikes, with demonstrators even storming the building where the vote took place. 

The Senate vote marks a major step forward for the legislation, which has been backed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. In a tense late-night session, an opposition senator broke ranks and voted in favour, securing the two-thirds majority required for a constitutional amendment.

While there will be further discussions on specific details, the general vote on Wednesday morning was the critical one.

This approval is a significant win for President López Obrador, whose term ends on September 30. The president championed the reform after several clashes with Mexico’s Supreme Court, which has blocked some of his key initiatives in the energy and security sectors during his six-year presidency.