MEXICO CITY, Oct 30 (Reuters) – On Wednesday, Mexico’s lower house of Congress approved a measure that renders changes to the constitution “unchallengeable.” The ruling party, Morena, along with its allies, is advancing a series of constitutional reforms, including a controversial overhaul of the judiciary.
The Senate passed the measure last week, and it garnered 340 votes in favor, 133 against, and 1 abstention. The coalition government maintains significant majorities in both congressional chambers.
Opposition lawmakers have labeled the measure as authoritarian. They argue it shields constitutional reforms approved by Congress from judicial review and oversight.
During a heated debate on Wednesday, lawmaker Annia Gomez from the opposition National Action Party (PAN) stated, “The aim is to end the rights of citizens by mutilating the Constitution. It is a historical regression that will take years to reverse and marks a significant shift in the balance of powers.”
This ban allows for retroactive application, effectively preventing the judiciary from reviewing a judicial reform passed last month, coinciding with the Supreme Court’s preparations to rule on its constitutionality.
Juan Luis Carrillo, a lawmaker from the ruling coalition’s Green Party, asserted that the ban on challenges is necessary. He claimed it prevents “particular interests from using judicial avenues to hinder or reverse democratically approved reforms.”
The judicial reform currently under Supreme Court review has raised alarms regarding the independence of the judiciary and the separation of powers.
Supporters of the ruling party argue that the reform will eradicate corruption within the judiciary. However, the uncertainty surrounding these changes has spooked investors and led to a decline in the local peso currency.
