**Morena and Allies Approve General and Specific Reform to the Federal Judiciary**
After nearly 11 hours of debate, at precisely 3:56 AM on September 11, 2024, with 86 votes in favor and 41 against, the Senate of the Republic approved, in general and specific, the reform to the Federal Judiciary (PJF) proposed by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador on February 5 of the same year. This session took place at the alternative headquarters in the historical house of Xicoténcatl.
Despite 80 reservations being presented and debated for over three hours, none were approved by the Senate. The approval votes came from the coalition of the “fourth transformation” – consisting of the parliamentary groups of Morena, the Green Ecologist Party of Mexico (PVEM), and the Labor Party (PT) – alongside a critical vote from Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez of the National Action Party (PAN), granting the coalition the necessary qualified majority for constitutional validation.
President of the Senate’s Upper House, José Gerardo Rodolfo Fernández Noroña, celebrated the approval on behalf of the “fourth transformation.” The absentee, Francisco Daniel Barreda Pavón, a senator from the Citizen Movement (MC), had a notable absence due to his father’s arrest by the Campeche state government, whose governor is a member of Morena.
Late on September 10, 2024, Barreda Pavón released a video explaining his absence from the Senate session. The opposition labeled the session conditions as lacking; however, the officialist bloc, through hand-raised votes and a later roll call, confirmed the sufficiency of the discussion and approval of the reform.
Members of the opposition such as PAN, PRI, and Citizen Movement protested vigorously against the judicial reform. Fernández Noroña accused them of attempting to derail the initiative, emphasizing the opposition’s disruption attempts, which included facilitating non-member entries to the Senate.
President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo lauded the reform’s approval, asserting it as a step towards eliminating corruption and strengthening democracy. Similarly, Mario Martín Delgado Carrillo, the head of Morena’s National Executive Committee (CEN), highlighted the reform’s goal to ensure judges and magistrates would only owe allegiance to the people. Conversely, PRI president Rafael Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas expressed sorrow and commitment against the reform, alleging manipulation and coercion in its passage.
### Additional Related News
#### Senator Criticism of New Reform Proposal
Following the approval of the reform, various opposition senators criticized the process, suggesting it undermined judicial independence. They asserted the necessity of checks and balances and voiced concerns over political influence in judiciary appointments.
#### Public Protests Erupt in Capital
In response to the judicial reform’s passage, public demonstrations erupted outside the alternative Senate headquarters. Protesters clashed with riot police, demanding the preservation of an independent judiciary and transparent governance. Supreme Court Justice groups have called for dialogue, emphasizing the need for judicial integrity.
#### President-elect Sheinbaum Outlines Judicial Reform Agenda
Claudia Sheinbaum Pardo has also announced a series of steps aimed at maintaining the reforms’ momentum. She plans to initiate public campaigns to educate citizens on the new judicial provisions and to facilitate smoother transitions within judicial institutions.
Stay informed with TJGringo.com for ongoing updates and in-depth coverage of these impactful legislative changes and their broader implications for Mexico’s judicial landscape.