Mexico is poised to amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected as part of a judicial overhaul championed by the outgoing president but slammed by critics as a blow to the country’s rule of law.

Mexico is poised to amend its constitution this weekend to require all judges to be elected as part of a judicial overhaul championed by the outgoing president but slammed by critics as a blow to the country’s rule of law.

The amendment passed Mexico’s Congress on Wednesday, and by Thursday it already had been ratified by the required majority of the country’s 32 state legislatures. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador said he would sign and publish the constitutional change on Sunday.

Legal experts and international observers have said the move could endanger Mexico’s democracy by stacking courts with judges loyal to the ruling Morena party, which has a strong grip on both Congress and the presidency after big electoral wins in June.

  • Lesrid@lemm.eeEnglish
    0·
    2 months ago

    What many democracies around the world are missing is greater recallability in offices. Citizens need to be able to easily oust people nonviolently.

    • Belgdore@lemm.eeEnglish
      0·
      2 months ago

      Short terms of office should have the same effect. If you want to stay in power you should have fight for it.

      • nearhat@lemmy.worldEnglish
        0·
        2 months ago

        Instead of doing the job, you’re perpetually running for reelection. Like the American politicians do every two years.

        • Belgdore@lemm.eeEnglish
          0·
          2 months ago

          Elected Judges still get their jobs done. They have clerks who do a lot of their drafting and grunt work in the office.

          For large elections, there are staffers and volunteers who do a lot of the electioneering. For small elections, campaign events only occur on weekends and at other times when court is not in session.