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Al Jazeera
2 days ago
- General
- Al Jazeera
Turnout low as Mexico votes in controversial judicial election
A landmark vote to select judges in Mexico has been labelled a 'success' by the president despite a sparse turnout and widespread confusion. Just 13 percent of eligible voters cast ballots in Sunday's vote to overhaul the court system. President Claudia Sheinbaum proclaimed that the election would make Mexico more democratic, but critics accused her of seeking to take control of the judiciary, while analysts warned it could open the way for criminals to seize influence. The vote, a cornerstone policy of Sheinbaum and predecessor Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, aimed to fill about 880 federal judicial positions, including Supreme Court justices, as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. But many voters said they struggled to make informed choices among a flood of largely unknown candidates, who were barred from openly disclosing party affiliations or engaging in widespread campaigning. Al Jazeera's John Holman reported from Mexico City that polling stations were 'largely empty'. 'On what the government planned to be a historic day, the majority of Mexicans prefer to do something else,' he said. Still, Sheinbaum hailed the election as 'a complete success' that makes the country a democratic trailblazer. 'Mexico is a country that is only becoming more free, just and democratic because that is the will of the people,' the president said. The reform, defended by supporters as necessary to cleanse a corrupt justice system, was originally championed by Sheinbaum's predecessor, Lopez Obrador, who frequently clashed with the old judiciary. Experts had warned that turnout would be unusually low due to the sheer number of candidates and the unfamiliarity of judicial voting. To be properly informed, voters 'would have to spend hours and hours researching the track record and the profiles of each of the hundreds of candidates', said David Shirk, a professor at the University of San Diego. That concern was echoed by voters at the polls. 'We are not very prepared,' said Lucia Calderon, a 63-year-old university teacher. 'I think we need more information.' Francisco Torres de Leon, a 62-year-old retired teacher in southern Mexico, called the process 'painstaking because there are too many candidates and positions that they're going to fill'. Beyond logistical challenges, analysts and rights groups raised fears that powerful criminal groups could use the elections to further infiltrate the judiciary. While corruption already exists, 'there is reason to believe that elections may be more easily infiltrated by organised crime than other methods of judicial selection', said Margaret Satterthwaite, the United Nations special rapporteur on the independence of judges and lawyers. Although all candidates were supposed to have legal experience, no criminal record and a 'good reputation', several have been linked to organised crime and corruption scandals. Rights group Defensorxs identified about 20 candidates it considers 'high risk', including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for Sinaloa cartel cofounder Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Another candidate, in Durango state, previously served nearly six years in a US prison for drug offences. Election results are expected in the coming days. A second round of judicial elections is scheduled for 2027 to fill hundreds more positions.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Mexico holds controversial vote to elect judges and magistrates
Mexico held its first judicial elections Sunday, making it the only nation in the world to select judges and magistrates by popular vote. Supporters of the controversial election believe this is needed to overhaul its judicial system known for corruption and inefficiency. But critics say the vote will politicize the judiciary in a country plagued by crime and gang violence. President Claudia Sheinbaum has staunchly defended the decision to hold these elections. The elections were championed by her predecessor and mentor, former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. "Those who want the regime of corruption and privileges in the judiciary to continue say this election is rigged. Or they also say it's so a political party can take over the Supreme Court. Nothing could be further from the truth," she said in a video message. Opponents of the vote marched in Mexico City, chanting slogans like "hands off our democracy" and "no to electoral fraud." "It was the last counterweight we had against the totalitarianism of the executive branch," 58-year-old Ismael Novela told AFP news agency about the judiciary. Voters had to elect around 880 federal judges — including Supreme Court justices — as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remaining judicial positions will be held in 2027. Turnout appeared to be low as many voters struggled to choose from hundreds of largely unknown candidates. "We are not very prepared. I think we need more information," Lucia Calderon, a 63-year-old university teacher told AFP. Some voters said they felt pressurized to vote, while others said they felt disillusioned with the corrupt system. "I'm not interested (in voting). Parties and their messages — they come and they go. It's all the same," Raul Bernal, a factory worker told the AP news agency. Rights group Defensorxs said it considered around 20 candidates "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
DW
3 days ago
- Politics
- DW
Mexico holds controversial vote to elect judges – DW – 06/02/2025
Mexico became the first nation in the world to hold an election for the judicial system. Turnout appeared to be low as many voters struggled to choose from hundreds of largely unknown candidates. Mexico held its first judicial elections Sunday, making it the only nation in the world to select judges and magistrates by popular vote. Supporters of the controversial election believe this is needed to overhaul its judicial system known for corruption and inefficiency. But critics say the vote will politicize the judiciary in a country plagued by crime and gang violence. President Claudia Sheinbaum has staunchly defended the decision to hold these elections. The elections were championed by her predecessor and mentor, former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador. "Those who want the regime of corruption and privileges in the judiciary to continue say this election is rigged. Or they also say it's so a political party can take over the Supreme Court. Nothing could be further from the truth," she said in a video message. Opponents of the vote marched in Mexico City, chanting slogans like "hands off our democracy" and "no to electoral fraud." "It was the last counterweight we had against the totalitarianism of the executive branch," 58-year-old Ismael Novela told AFP news agency about the judiciary. Tough task for voters Voters had to elect around 880 federal judges — including Supreme Court justices — as well as hundreds of local judges and magistrates. Another election for the remaining judicial positions will be held in 2027. Turnout appeared to be low as many voters struggled to choose from hundreds of largely unknown candidates. "We are not very prepared. I think we need more information," Lucia Calderon, a 63-year-old university teacher told AFP. Some voters said they felt pressurized to vote, while others said they felt disillusioned with the corrupt system. "I'm not interested (in voting). Parties and their messages — they come and they go. It's all the same," Raul Bernal, a factory worker told the AP news agency. Rights group Defensorxs said it considered around 20 candidates "high risk," including Silvia Delgado, a former lawyer for the Sinaloa Cartel co-founder Joaquin "El Chapo" Guzman. Hundreds of thousands displaced by gang violence in Mexico To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
RTHK
3 days ago
- Politics
- RTHK
Polls open in Mexico's first ever judicial elections
Polls open in Mexico's first ever judicial elections Mexico's President Claudia Sheinbaum casts her vote. Photo: Reuters Mexicans turned out to vote on Sunday in Mexico City in the country's first ever judicial elections, part of an overhaul of the nation's judiciary that critics warn could jeopardise the rule of law. The vote will elect 2,600 judges and magistrates, including all Supreme Court justices. It is part of a reform pushed by former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his protege and successor President Claudia Sheinbaum. Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum say the election will root out corruption in a flawed judiciary dominated by an out-of-touch elite and instead allow people to decide who should be a judge. Opponents say the overhaul risks removing checks and balances on the ruling Morena party, by appointing judges friendly to their cause, and also allowing organised crime groups greater influence over the judicial system by running their own candidates. (Reuters)
Globe and Mail
3 days ago
- Business
- Globe and Mail
Mexico votes in first judicial election amid concerns over rule of law
Mexicans vote on Sunday in the country's first ever judicial elections, part of an overhaul of the nation's judiciary that critics warn could jeopardize the rule of law. The vote will elect 2,600 judges and magistrates, including all Supreme Court justices, and is part of a reform pushed by former president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and his protégé and successor President Claudia Sheinbaum. Lopez Obrador and Sheinbaum say the election will root out corruption in a flawed judiciary dominated by an out-of-touch elite and instead allow people to decide who should be a judge. But the run-up to the vote has been dominated by a scandal over some of the candidates, including a convicted drug smuggler and a former lawyer of drug kingpin Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman. Opponents say the overhaul risks removing checks and balances on the ruling Morena party, by appointing judges friendly to their cause, and also allowing organized crime groups greater influence over the judicial system by running their own candidates. Mexico joins Bolivia as the only countries worldwide to conduct judicial elections at the national level, though state-level judicial elections are common in the United States and some local Swiss judges are also elected. Voters on Sunday will cast ballots for Mexico's nine Supreme Court judges, as well as for judges and magistrates across 19 of Mexico's 32 administrative divisions. More than 7,700 candidates are running for judicial posts. Pollsters expect a poor turnout, in part due to opposition calls to boycott the vote, but also because of the complexity of the process and vast number of candidates to consider. 'In Mexico City we are going to vote for 50 candidates. If even discerning people with access to social media aren't checking the candidates, imagine the people who don't have this access,' 22-year-old accounting student Maria Alejandra Mares told Reuters. 'They're going to vote blind.' Voting is not mandatory in Mexico and there is no minimum turnout required to legitimize an election. Just 37% of 1,000 people polled by Buendia & Marquez said they would come out to vote, compared to 61% who participated in the vote last June that elected President Sheinbaum. The right-wing PAN opposition party has called on supporters to boycott the election, branding it a 'vulgar fraud,' but Sheinbaum has vigorously defended her predecessor's reform and her party has sought to mobilize the grassroots vote. 'We call on you to participate, participate, participate,' Sheinbaum told a news conference on Friday, saying this would help significantly improve the current judiciary. 'Participating is the best way to transform a country.' Besides mandating the popular election of judges, the judicial reform, promoted last year by former President Lopez Obrador, also reduced the number of Supreme Court judges, shortened terms and eased some requirements such as minimum age and work experience. The reform's approval by lawmakers last year knocked financial markets, sparked the United States to express concern about a weaker judicial system, and sparked a strike by the country's judicial workers. 'Mexico's justice system was far from perfect, and this new judicial system will not address its shortcomings,' said Rodolfo Ramos, an analyst at Brazilian bank Bradesco BBI. Ramos said 'the real litmus test' would come when cases against a government action reach the Supreme Court. Counting is expected to take two weeks, with the results out on June 15. In 2027, another vote is scheduled to fill over 1,000 more judicial positions.
