**Noroña Firm in Claim That 85 Votes Constitute Qualified Majority in Senate; Anaya and “Alito” Allege Coercion**
On September 9, 2024, José Gerardo Rodolfo Fernández Noroña, President of the Senate of the Republic, reaffirmed in a video statement that the “fourth transformation” coalition—composed of the political groups from Morena, Green Ecological Party (PVEM), and the Labor Party (PT)—has secured the qualified majority necessary for passing the judicial reform bill. He argued that 85 votes should be considered sufficient, contrary to the 86 votes traditionally required for such a majority.
According to Fernández Noroña, with all 128 senators present, the 43 votes against would stem from the National Action Party (PAN), Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), and Citizen Movement (MC). “We have a qualified majority, 85 senators are sufficient for this. 86 would be 67.18 percent, going beyond the constitutional requirement,” Fernandez Noroña contended. He criticized Supreme Court President Norma Lucía Piña Hernández for accusing the “fourth transformation” of attempting to undermine the Federal Judiciary.
On September 8, 2024, Fernández Noroña echoed the sentiment of Morena’s coordinator, Adán Augusto López Hernández, who had asserted that 85 votes suffice for a qualified majority. Fernández Noroña clarified that, ideally, they would aim to secure the minimum of 86 votes.
Despite this, the Legislative Information System (SIL) of the Interior Ministry maintains that a two-thirds majority, typically 86 of 128 senators, is required. The debate continues over the interpretation, with López Hernández stating that 85.36 votes would round down to 85.
In a tense legislative environment, the Senate’s joint committees approved the reform bill, with 25 votes in favor and 12 against. The bill moved forward despite objections from opposition groups.
PAN senator Ricardo Anaya Cortés accused the ruling coalition of pressuring opposition legislators, claiming corrupt proposals and harassment were made to at least three opposition senators. Similarly, PRI leader Rafael Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, also known as “Alito,” alleged that his Senate faction had received organized crime threats, urging them to switch allegiances or abstain from the vote.
**Anaya and “Alito” Condemn External Pressures On Senators**
Ricardo Anaya, a senator from PAN, publicly called on the ruling coalition to cease its intimidation tactics, stating, “I would not make this claim without knowing the time, manner, and place where at least three senators were approached with corrupt proposals and harassment through state prosecutors.”
More concerns were raised by PRI leader Rafael Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas, who shared that opposition senators were being threatened by organized crime to switch votes. Moreno emphasized unity within the PRI ranks, promising to protect his senators from external pressures.
To safeguard their members, Moreno announced that PRI senators and their substitutes would convene in a single location during the voting period for mutual protection. He underscored the critical situation, stating, “We are at an extreme point where it’s necessary to take such measures due to the threats and persecutions.”
**Secondary Article: Political Tensions Rise Over Judicial Reform Vote**
As the Mexican Senate prepares for a crucial vote on the proposed judicial reform, tensions are escalating among the political factions. Opposition parties claim that their members are facing unlawful pressures and blatant threats, adding further instability to an already contentious legislative process.
**Opposition Alleges Corruption and Harassment**
Senator Ricardo Anaya and PRI leader Rafael Alejandro Moreno Cárdenas have come forward with serious allegations of corruption and coercion within the Senate. Anaya highlighted instances where opposition senators were reportedly harassed and offered corrupt deals. In parallel, Moreno Cárdenas revealed that senators received threats from organized crime, compelling them to alter their votes or sabotage the quorum needed for voting on the judicial reform.
**Majority Dispute**
The heart of the dispute centers on the number of votes required for a qualified majority. While the “fourth transformation” coalition contends that 85 votes suffice, opponents and the Legislative Information System assert that the threshold is indeed 86 votes as traditionally interpreted. This disagreement adds another layer of complexity to the already heated debate over the judicial reform proposal.
As the vote day approaches, both sides are gearing up for what promises to be a decisive moment in Mexican legislative history, with significant implications for the future of the Federal Judiciary. The dynamics within the Senate, marred by allegations and high-stakes politics, continue to unfold as the nation watches closely.