Latest news with #México
CNN
4 hours ago
- Business
- CNN
Mexico will hold historic judicial elections on Sunday. Some believe it will hurt democracy
Mexico is scheduled to hold its first-ever judicial elections on Sunday, with hundreds of judges, magistrates and justices on the ballot across the country. It's an unprecedented contest that supporters say will democratize the courts, but critics fear it could make them more susceptible to the influence of politicians or criminal groups. Almost 900 federal positions will be in play, including all nine seats of the Supreme Court, as well as some 1,800 local positions in 19 states. Sunday's event will be the first of two voting phases, with the second one set for 2027. The vote is the result of a constitutional reform that was approved last year during the final weeks of Andrés Manuel López Obrador's presidency. He had argued that the change was necessary to stem impunity in the courts and give voters a greater say in the judicial process. But opponents saw the move as an attempt by López Obrador to strengthen the power of his ruling Morena party by overhauling the very judiciary that often blocked some of his policy proposals. Critics also worry that by having judges elected through popular vote, the independent authority of the courts could be compromised, and with it, their ability to uphold the law and keep other powers in check at a time of rampant crime and corruption. Before the reform was enacted, Supreme Court judges were nominated by the president and approved in the Senate, while federal judges were selected by a judicial commission using exams and coursework that evaluated candidates on a meritocratic basis. In the new system, federal candidates will be elected by the public after being vetted and nominated by Evaluation Committees of the three branches of government. Unlike other elections, those running for a judicial post can't be nominated or supported by any political party, according to Mexico's electoral authority. They also can't receive public or private funding, meaning they must finance their campaign on their own – a rule that reform supporters say reduces the likelihood of being influenced by political actors, but critics say favors wealthier candidates. Candidates are also prohibited from buying campaign ads on TV or radio, but they can promote themselves on social media or through interviews and other forums. Once in office, elected judges will be evaluated by a newly established Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal, which will have the power to investigate and sanction judicial personnel, except for Supreme Court justices and electoral magistrates. Some of those sanctions include suspensions, financial penalties, dismissals and disqualifications. Although the rules prohibit political parties from providing direct support to a candidate, critics warn that they could still influence the race by encouraging voters to elect people aligned with their interests. Local media have reported that some politicians and their supporters have been accused of distributing pamphlets, or cheat sheets, which provide suggestions on who to vote for. Just days ahead of the election, the National Electoral Institute (INE) – which is organizing the vote – said it was investigating two complaints related to the use of such pamphlets. 'The law is very clear about who cannot intervene in this – neither governments of any level nor political parties,' INE adviser Claudia Zavala said in an interview with Milenio TV. CNN has reached out to Zavala for more information. Another concern is that political parties could theoretically have a say in which candidates are nominated in the first place. If a single party holds sway over the three branches of government, which oversee the candidates' nomination process, that party could influence who gets on the ballot. 'Right now, numerically, who holds the most influence over these branches of government – executive and legislative, specifically – would be the Morena party,' said Stephanie Brewer, director for Mexico at the Washington Office on Latin America. There's similar apprehension about the new Judicial Disciplinary Tribunal that's meant to supervise judges in office. Brewer says that if political actors manage to influence it, they could subsequently exert pressure on the judges it oversees. One of the biggest concerns rights groups are warning about is that elections could also be influenced by criminal groups. In previous races, Mexican cartels have used violence to impact the outcome of a vote – often by attacking or assassinating candidates they oppose. Last year, the country saw a record number of victims from political-criminal violence, with Data Cívica, a human rights organization, reporting 661 attacks on people and facilities. Many of the victims either held or were running for municipal-level positions. This year, the think tank México Evalúa warned that eight states have a high risk of political-criminal violence in the upcoming judicial elections, saying that it is 'highly likely that, through violence, organized crime will seek to seize judicial powers, especially at the local level.' Several political attacks have been recorded in the lead-up to the elections, though most of them involved candidates in mayoral races. Miguel Meza of the rights groups Defensorxs says he has not yet seen any attacks against judicial candidates, but that other risks remain. 'Cartels (could) identify possible winners and offer them support in exchange for loyalty,' he said, noting that such actions have happened before, and although they haven't seen it in this election, 'in others, it could intensify.' Defensorxs has also raised questions about some judicial candidates. While many have extensive experience in the judicial field, Defensorxs has determined that some are 'linked to organized crime, sexual offenses, political-religious sects, and other irregularities.' One of them served nearly six years in a US prison on drug offenses, after being accused of smuggling over 4 kilograms of methamphetamines, according to Reuters. That candidate said on Facebook that he faced an 'unjust' judicial process and has 'moved on.' Another candidate was a defense attorney who joined the team that represented drug lord Joaquin 'El Chapo' Guzman in 2016, a decision she has defended by telling the AP, 'Everyone has a right to an effective defense.' Meza said his group has filed complaints to INE against some of those candidates but was told that electoral authorities couldn't invalidate their candidacy at this point. If one of them ends up winning an election, Meza said, the group was told it could try to challenge the victory with the electoral tribunal. CNN has reached out to INE for more information. A poll by Pew Research Center found that most Mexicans approve of the judicial reform. Although the policy sparked protests in September when Congress was voting on it, 66% of people surveyed earlier this year said they backed it, with approval being higher among Morena supporters and younger adults. Still, the judicial election faces heavy criticism from opposition groups. Former President Vicente Fox of the PAN party has urged people not to vote on Sunday. 'The judicial election is not democratic. It's a farce, it's a hoax … Don't go. Don't waste your time,' he said on X. Several civil organizations and opposition figures have indicated that they will boycott Sunday's vote, and some have called for a nationwide protest on election day. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum has pushed back against those calls, urging Mexicans to participate in the electoral process and decide who will make up the judiciary. 'It's better for millions of people to vote than for the president and the Senate of the Republic to decide,' she said.
The Guardian
9 hours ago
- General
- The Guardian
Eight Mexican soldiers killed by improvised explosive device
Eight Mexican soldiers have died after triggering an improvised explosive device (IED) in the state of Michoacán, underlining the rising use of mines by organised crime factions. The soldiers were on patrol in an armoured vehicle in the municipality of Los Reyes, near the border with the state of Jalisco, when the mine detonated on Wednesday. Six soldiers were killed instantly, while two more later died from their wounds, according to El Universal. Jalisco's state attorney general has taken charge of the investigation, while a special military taskforce searches the area for more explosive devices. Shortly before the explosion, the army had reported finding and destroying 621 IEDs in Michoacán during operations so far. The border region between Michoacán and Jalisco is the site of a violent struggle between Mexico's most powerful criminal group, the Jalisco New Generation cartel, and local groups that are resisting its incursion into their territory. Various criminal groups have reportedly recruited ex-military personnel from Colombia who are experts in explosives, leading to a proliferation of improvised mines to control territory throughout the region. This incident marks the highest military death toll from an IED since their use took off – but it is not the only one. In December 2024, four soldiers were killed by mines in two incidents in nearby municipalities of Michoacán. And in January that year, four more were killed when an army convoy entered a town in Jalisco. The mines have also claimed civilian lives in Michoacán, from a teacher whose vehicle set off a mine in January, to several lime farmers – including a 15-year-old in February. Aside from using them as mines, criminal groups have also taken to attaching IEDs to drones and dropping them on opponents from above. Overall, according to Mexican military data obtained by Insight Crime, IED seizures have soared from almost none in 2021 to well over 1,000 every year since. Though their use has spread across Mexico, it remains concentrated in the border area between Michoacán and Jalisco, which accounts for roughly 40% of all seizures. The mines have sown terror in the region, contributing to the forced displacement of some communities.
Bloomberg
19 hours ago
- General
- Bloomberg
Mexico's Judicial Reform Is Now In the Hands of Confused Voters
It's an election unlike any other in Mexico. No sports stadiums packed with the party faithful. The smiling faces of normally omnipresent candidates almost completely absent on TV or glitzy posters. But the stakes couldn't be higher. On Sunday, Mexicans will begin electing judges from among thousands of largely unknown candidates in a vote critics slam as a radical experiment that will mark the end of an independent judiciary.
Reuters
a day ago
- Business
- Reuters
BBVA to invest $5.2 billion in Mexico through 2030
MEXICO CITY, May 27 (Reuters) - Spanish bank BBVA ( opens new tab plans to invest more than 100 billion pesos ($5.19 billion) in Mexico through 2030, it said in a statement on Tuesday. The investment is part of BBVA's long-term bet on the Latin American nation, the firm added. "The 100 billion pesos that we are announcing is not only an investment," BBVA chair Carlos Torres Vila said in the announcement. "It's a commitment to the more than 30 million customers we serve in the country." BBVA added that it was looking to further strengthen its corporate banking presence in the nation and boost customer service. ($1 = 19.2575 Mexican pesos)
The Independent
2 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
‘The Face of Boxing, Brit Basher' - the many nicknames of Saul ‘Canelo' Alvarez
Saúl Álvarez is one of the biggest names in boxing; even if he does not always go by that moniker. In fact, so entrenched is the Mexican fighter's nickname into the boxing landscape that he is often referred by just 'Canelo'. As one of the top stars in the sport, fans and the media have come up with many different names for Álvarez over the years. Following on from his latest victory over William Scull to set up a super-bout with Terence Crawford this September, here is the story behind his famed monikers. Canelo, Canelitas, Canelito There is no better place to start with than Álvarez's most-well known nickname, 'Canelo'. Simply the Spanish word for 'cinnamon', it is commonly used in Hispanic countries to refer to redheads, in much the same way English-speaking places use the nickname ginger. Of course, Canelo has been ginger his whole life, and as such, has long lived with the nickname – or some variation of it. With family, he was called 'Canelitas ' , likening his ginger hair to the cinnamon biscuits popular in Mexico. His trainer José 'Chepo' Reynoso referred to him with a similar diminutive, 'Canelito', meaning 'little cinnamon' in English. When Álvarez grew in size as a boxer, so did his nickname. Santitos Canelo was not Álvarez's first nickname from his family. Although referred to as Saúl Álvarez, Canelo's first name is actually Santos. That was also the name of his father, so in the Álvarez family home he had to go by another nickname. As Canelo was the younger Santos in the house, he became little Santos – 'Santitos ' in Spanish. However, the nickname was hardly used outside Canelo's direct family. Jícama con Chile Álvarez's neighbours had other terms to describe the young boxer, including another food-related nickname. Jícama is a root vegetable found in Mexico, commonly cut up into strips and dusted with chili powder. The pale food dusted with red flecks was compared to Canelo's complexion and freckles, leading to Álvarez being christened 'Jícama con Chile ' . Other nicknames were not as imaginative, with 'Pecas ' – freckles – another label 'Canelo' was given. Referring to his red features and fiery temperament, ' Entomatado ' (literally 'tomatoed') and 'Enchilado ' (seasoned with chili, spicy) were also used. These harsh terms were part of the reasoning behind Álvarez's trainer and manager, Chepo Reynoso, finding the new nickname of 'Canelito' for his charge. Reynoso told the LA Times in 2012: 'I wanted it to be something softer, nicer, because he was being called such harsh things.' Brit Basher Canelo Álvarez is a feared opponent around the world, but British boxers should be warier than most of the Mexican. That is because Canelo boasts a perfect record against fighters from the UK, with eight wins from eight bouts – five by stoppage. Even when Canelo failed to get a stoppage against Callum Smith, Matthew Hatton, and John Ryder, he still won by unanimous decisions in each bout. Most of the Brits Canelo has vanquished were no slouches; Liam Smith and his brother Callum, Amir Khan, and Billy Joe Saunders were all world champions. Canelo's dominant performances against UK fighters has led to sections of the British press to label the Mexican 'Brit Basher ' . It is a moniker Canelo is proud of, recently telling The Sun : "I'm sorry to say that, but I'm gonna continue to do it if somebody pays me!" The Face of Boxing Many fighters have been labelled, or proclaim themselves, as the 'Face of Boxing'. Gervonta 'Tank' Davis is a recent example, but Canelo has been boxing's biggest star. After becoming a household name in his native Mexico, Canelo has gone on to become one of the most recognisable names in the sweet science. Canelo's CV is filled with star names from all over the globe, with fights against Dimtry Bivol, Floyd Mayweather, Gennady Golovkin, capturing the attention of millions across the world. A big attraction no matter where he fights, Canelo is often included in Forbes' list of highest-paid athletes, highlighting his ability to sell pay-per-views and attracting sponsorship.
