Mexico City, August 28 (RHC)-- Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has paused relations with the U.S. and Canadian embassies after the two countries criticized Mexico’s efforts to reform its judiciary system. 

Part of the reform calls for judges to be elected by popular vote.  Mexico’s President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office on October 1st, has defended the proposed changes.

President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum: “What’s best?  Justices of the Supreme Court elected by the Senate of the Republic or by the people of Mexico?  Who says the people of Mexico? Raise your hand.  This is democracy — democracy to elect the president, democracy for lawmakers, and democracy for the judiciary, too, so that it’s a judiciary at the service of the people.”

Last week, U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar criticized Mexico’s judicial reform proposal, saying that “popular direct election of judges is a major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.”