A demonstrator waves a Mexican flag by the LA Convention Center during a march through downtown Los Angeles, protesting the election of Donald Trump as U.S. President on November 10, 2016. Image by REUTERS/Patrick T. Fallon, used for illustrative purposes.
Two contentious legal reforms were enacted in Mexico on Friday, expanding presidential powers to grant amnesty and restricting judges’ ability to halt public projects.
Approved by Congress earlier this year and taking effect on Saturday, these amendments enable the president to bypass established procedures and directly grant amnesty to individuals with ongoing criminal cases, prosecutions, or sentences. The recipients must also provide information pertinent to state investigations.
Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador championed the amnesty law, suggesting it could shed light on murky investigations like the infamous 2014 disappearance of 43 students, a case marred by incomplete information, false testimonies, and military complicity. Critics, however, fear the law undermines victims’ rights to reparation.
The second reform curtails judges’ capacity to temporarily suspend laws and federal projects through the “amparo” process, which is designed to prevent power abuses. This measure has previously halted significant projects like the Mayan Train in southern Mexico and energy sector reforms aimed at increasing state control.
Proponents argue the amendment will curb the use of legal challenges for political gains, while opponents contend it strips the judiciary of essential powers. These reforms, approved in April, come as President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, Lopez Obrador’s successor, prepares to initiate public discussions on a judicial reform proposal. This proposal, backed by the current president, includes popular elections for top judges and magistrates.
