Thousands of Students Protest Judicial Reform in Mexico

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Thousands of students took to the streets of Mexico City yesterday to protest a proposed judicial reform that would introduce direct elections for judges. The demonstration included students from both public and private universities, who chanted slogans such as "Wake up, Mexico, we are your defense" and "Justice is not something to vote on."

The judicial reform, proposed by outgoing leftist President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, is set to be debated by the Mexican Parliament during the legislative session beginning in September. López Obrador's party holds the majority needed to pass the reform, and the incoming president, Claudia Sheinbaum, who takes office on October 1, also supports the plan.

Proponents argue that the reform is necessary to make the judiciary serve the public rather than the political and economic elite. Critics, however, warn that the plan could dangerously politicize the judiciary and undermine its independence.

The U.S. government has also expressed concern about the reform. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, recently warned that the move could erode investor confidence in Mexico's legal system and harm the strong trade relations between the two countries. Salazar described the proposal as a "significant threat to the functioning of democracy in Mexico," cautioning that direct elections could allow criminal organizations, such as drug cartels, to exploit politically motivated and inexperienced judges.