**At Least 17 State Congresses Approve ‘Constitutional Supremacy’; Not a Bad Move, Says Sheinbaum**
As of October 31, 2024, 17 state congresses in Mexico have given their approval to a controversial reform known as “constitutional supremacy.” This reform involves modifying Article 107 and adding a fifth paragraph to Article 105 of the nation’s Constitution. It has been put forward by the Morena party and aims to prevent constitutional amendments from being challenged through any means.
The state congresses that have already approved this reform include Zacatecas, Mexico City, Tabasco, Sonora, Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Nayarit, Hidalgo, Campeche, Tamaulipas, Chiapas, Baja California, and Guerrero. With these 17 approvals, which meet the minimum requirement for constitutional amendment, the reform is set to be validated by the Chamber of Deputies later the same day.
Once the chamber declares its constitutionality, the reform will be sent to the Federal Executive Power for publication in the Official Gazette of the Federation.
On the same day, President Claudia Sheinbaum defended the “constitutional supremacy,” stating that the concept is neither new nor negative. She pointed out that similar measures were supported by the Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI) and the National Action Party (PAN) in 2013 during amendments to the Amparo Law.
Sheinbaum emphasized that the Constitution is the supreme law and criticized the opposition for opposing a principle they supported a decade ago.
“Yesterday, I Googled ‘constitutional supremacy’. The National Supreme Court of Justice and many documents highlight it. Article 133 already establishes it as the supreme law,” Sheinbaum said, underscoring the legitimacy of the reform.
The move has drawn criticism from opposition figures, suggesting that the reform might lead to states and municipalities losing their power to contest federal government overreach.
**Additional Context: Debates on Constitutional Reforms in Mexico**
While debates on constitutional reforms continue in Mexico, the issue of constitutional amendments has stirred varied opinions. In particular, past changes in 2013 by the PRI and PAN focused on energy reforms, which had privatized national resources leading to significant public scrutiny. Sheinbaum highlighted this, noting the inconsistencies in the opposition’s current stance.
Furthermore, former officials have weighed in, labeling the reform as contradictory to federalism principles, focusing on how it might restrict the ability of local governments to oppose federal decisions.
As the situation develops, the reaction from federal entities and the public could influence future legislative activities and the broader political landscape in Mexico.