News / Foreign Policy / Mexico

Mexico lashes out at US over ‘meddling' comments by its ambassador

Sunday, 25 August 2024 3:28 PM [ Last Update: Sunday, 25 August 2024 3:29 PM ]

Mexico's President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador gestures while speaking during his daily early morning press conference at the National Palace in Mexico City on August 23, 2024. (Photo by AFP)

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador has criticized the US ambassador for "meddling" in his overhaul of the country's judicial system.

The US ambassador to Mexico had described the judicial overhaul proposed by the president as not only a “major risk” to Mexico's democracy, but also, a move that “threatens the historic commercial relationship” between the two neighboring countries.

On Friday, the Mexican president said Ken Salazar's comments were "disrespectful", undermining his country's national sovereignty

The Mexican government sent a diplomatic note to the US, protesting to its ambassador’s "unacceptable meddling" in the nation's affairs.

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Salazar told reporters on Thursday the proposed overhaul would "help cartels and other bad actors take advantage of inexperienced judges with political motivations.”

Salazar said the plan would also “create turbulence” both economically and politically for years to come.

He later took back his words, claiming that he had made the disparaging comments in a "spirit of collaboration."

Last week, in protest to the proposals opposing judges, magistrates and federal court employees went on strike.

Also, financial institutions warned that the overhaul of the judicial system could have serious economic repercussions and risks scaring investors out of Mexico.

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In response to the overhaul's critics, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum joined her political ally Lopez Obrador in defending the proposed judicial reforms which he says are meant to clean up corruption in the system.

“Investors shouldn’t be worried. On the contrary, we will have a better justice system in Mexico,” Sheinbaum told reporters on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, the judicial overhaul proposed by the Mexican president must be approved by the country's newly elected congress which is scheduled to start its work on Sept. 1.

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