### AMLO Addresses Judicial Workers’ Strike, Cites Existing Privileges
On Monday, August 19, 2024, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador expressed respect for the strike initiated by judicial workers. He noted that the proposed constitutional reform would not negatively impact the workers, but instead, benefit them. López Obrador stated during a press conference at the National Palace, “They have the right to protest, but it’s important to note that the reform won’t harm them—it will actually benefit them.”
The reform in question, which was sent to Congress on February 5, 2024, includes provisions for electing judges, magistrates, and ministers by popular vote. López Obrador emphasized that the goal is to eliminate corruption within the Judiciary. “Not all, but many judges, magistrates, and ministers are involved in releasing both organized crime and white-collar criminals,” he added.
On the day of the strike, judicial workers closed the Federal Justice Palace in Mexico City, an action projected to extend to state offices across the country. Organizations like Circuitos Unidos Trabajadores del PJF, Colegio de Secretarios y Actuarios de la Judicatura Federal, and others stated that the 55,000-strong workforce tried to negotiate, describing the constitutional reform as harmful. Effective immediately, judicial functions across the country are suspended indefinitely.
López Obrador warned that workers striking under the pretext of corruption within the Judiciary risk becoming pawns for the corrupt forces they oppose. He specifically criticized the Business Coordinating Council (CCE) and its president, Francisco Cervantes Díaz, accusing them of wanting to “have judges, magistrates, and ministers at their feet” to evade taxes and maintain monopolistic practices.
Questioning those opposing the reform, he asked, “If they truly support democracy and a genuine rule of law, why would democratic methods to clean the Judiciary be a problem?”
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### Additional Insights on Judicial Workers’ Strike
As the Judiciary faces a historic strike, it’s clear the tension between reform efforts and the status quo has reached a tipping point. Judicial workers have expressed deep concerns about how the proposed changes could affect their operation and independence, despite assurances from the President.
In recent reports, leaders of the strike have highlighted the perceived threats to judicial impartiality, arguing that placing the election of judicial officers in the hands of the general populace could subject them to political pressures and diminish their ability to function independently.
Further complicating the issue, economic and business sectors feel uneasy about the reforms, fearing potential upheaval in judicial processes that might affect economic stability and investor confidence. The Mexican Bar Association and other legal entities have also voiced apprehensions that the reforms might lead to a more politicized and less effective judicial system.
The ongoing strike and the reactions surrounding it underscore the complex interplay between efforts to curb corruption and the interests of various stakeholders within Mexican society. As the debate continues, both the supporters and detractors of the reform will need to navigate a landscape marked by intense scrutiny and high stakes.