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During his morning press conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that relations with the embassies of the United States and Canada are on hold, after speaking out regarding the Judicial Reform, which seeks to have federal judges elected by direct vote.
"With all due respect, the ambassador, this is not a matter of dispute, of enmity, but how can we allow him to give his opinion that what we are doing is wrong? We are not going to tell him to leave the country, no, but we do have to read him the Constitution, which is like reading him the riot act," said the Mexican president.
The relationship with Ken Salazar, the United States ambassador to Mexico, he said, "is good, but it is on hold," which he specified since he issued a letter on the proposal for Judicial Reform in Mexico on August 22.
"Pausing means that we are going to take our time, because hopefully the State Department will, because it is not the State Department either, what a coincidence that at the same time that they are speaking out in Mexico, through the Embassy, the Canadians are doing so, which is also "embarrassing", with all due respect to the Canadian government. It seems like an associated State," he stressed.
In his remarks, Ken Salazar, while saying he respects the country's sovereignty, expressed that as leaders in Mexico consider judicial reform, he hopes the ultimate outcome will lead to a strong and independent judiciary.
"Based on my lifelong experience supporting the rule of law, I believe that the direct election of judges represents a major risk to the functioning of Mexico's democracy. Any judicial reform must have safeguards that ensure that the judiciary is strengthened and not subject to the corruption of politics," the U.S. ambassador said.
He also said 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 approved, threaten the historic commercial relationship between Mexico and the United States, which, he said, depends on the confidence of investors in Mexico's legal framework.
In that regard, Salazar explained that direct elections could also make it easier for cartels and other malicious actors to take advantage of inexperienced judges with political motivations.
"We understand the importance of Mexico's fight against judicial corruption. However, direct and political election of judges, in my view, will not resolve such judicial corruption nor strengthen the judiciary. It would also undermine efforts to realize North American economic integration and create turbulence, as the debate over direct election will continue for years to come," the diplomat added.
He also stressed that a strengthened judiciary in Mexico must have judges capable of handling complex litigation for extraditions, commercial disputes and other issues.
"However, the proposal, as it stands, eliminates the necessary requirements for having the most qualified judges, including reducing the years of experience required to serve at all levels of the judiciary."
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