### Federal Deputies Approve Judicial Reform in Alternative Venue
In a dramatic turn of events, after a marathon 12-hour debate and six rounds of interventions, the Federal Deputies General Assembly of the LXVI Legislature approved the Judicial Reform for the Federal Judiciary (PJF) at 4:24 a.m. on September 4, 2024. The session was held in an alternate venue at the Sala de Armas in the Magdalena Mixhuca sports complex, located in the Iztacalco district.
The reform secured 359 votes in favor, cast by members of the political parties Morena, Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), and the Labor Party (PT). Conversely, the opposition, including members of the National Action Party (PAN), the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), the Citizen Movement, and the Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), voted against it with 135 votes.
Despite the legislative body’s approval, the discussion continued with over 610 reservations presented by the opposition. Once finalized, the reform will be forwarded to the Senate for review and potential approval, prior to being sent to the Federal Executive Power for publication in the Official Journal of the Federation (DOF).
During the debate, opposition lawmakers claimed numerous legal irregularities in the session, particularly regarding the alleged lack of quorum necessary to discuss the reform. Nevertheless, the Chamber’s Board of Directors, led by Sergio Carlos Gutiérrez Luna, dismissed these claims and affirmed the presence of the requisite number of legislators.
Opposition lawmakers from PAN called for “resistance,” and donned protest shirts and banners opposing the reform. On the other side, Ricardo Monreal Ávila, coordinator of Morena’s parliamentary group, defended the reform, asserting that it would not infringe upon workers’ rights and would establish a justice system exemplary worldwide. He also accused the judiciary of being under a “dictatorship of the robe and gavel.”
Meanwhile, law students from various universities staged a protest blocking the Viaducto Río de la Piedad near the Sala de Armas, urging deputies to hear their grievances.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo interrupted her vacation to express her support for the judicial reform, asserting that it would not harm Mexico’s commercial relations or foreign and national investments.
“Democracy means the power of the people. If judges are elected by the people, where is the authoritarianism?” Sheinbaum Pardo argued on her social media. She called for more democracy, more justice, and more freedom through the judicial reform.
In contrast to Sheinbaum’s stance, spokesperson for Federal Judiciary workers Patricia Aguayo Bernal urged Sheinbaum to engage in dialogue and avoid starting her tenure with nationwide controversies.
### Secondary Article: Judicial Reform Sparks Diverse Reactions and Protests
The recent approval of the Judicial Reform by the Federal Deputies has stirred significant national debate and protests. Critics argue that the reform, supported primarily by Morena and its allies, lacks transparency and could undermine judicial independence.
Protests have erupted nationwide, with law students from the country’s major universities playing a pivotal role. Their rallies have been characterized by slogans opposing the reform and demanding that their voices be heard.
On the political front, tensions have heightened between the ruling party and opposition groups. The PAN’s call for resistance and PRI’s firm opposition underscore the deep political divisions over the reform’s potential impacts on the judiciary’s autonomy.
Meanwhile, business communities and international observers are closely monitoring the situation. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, commented that if the reform is not executed properly, it could strain Mexico’s bilateral relations with the United States.
As the judicial reform moves to the Senate for further deliberation, the country braces for more intense political battles and public protests, reflecting the high stakes involved in reshaping Mexico’s judicial system.