International

Reverse for Sheinbaum with 13% participation in Mexico’s judicial election

Mexico held this Sunday the “historic” election to the judiciary and began the long count of results, whose final calculation will not be known for another two weeks, but which points to a participation of just 13%, in a notable setback to the president, Claudia Sheinbaum, promoter of the initiative.

“From a sample of randomly selected sectional boxes (voting centers) in front of public notaries, the results obtained by the specialists yielded an estimated result of citizen participation of 12.57% to 13.32% of participation,” said Guadalupe Taddei, president of the National Electoral Institute (INE), in a message to the media.

The elections, in which judges, magistrates and ministers were elected by direct vote both at the federal level and in 19 states of the country, represent the most profound change to the judiciary in the last three decades, so the low participation of the electorate is a defeat for Sheinbaum, who had called for a “masss” vote.

The president estimated to reach 20% participation, to exceed 17.77% of the mandate revocation consultation carried out by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (2018-2024) in 2022.

However, in a message on his social networks minutes after the INE reported the participation data, Sheinbaum, who came to power in October 2024, celebrated the day as a triumph.

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“The historic election of the judiciary of June 1, 2025 has been a success. About 13 million Mexicans went out to exercise for the first time in history who the ministers, magistrates and judges should be,” he said.

Sheinbaum remarked that “the current judiciary has been responsible for favoring members of organized crime” and assured that it is plagued by “nepotism.”

He celebrated, on the other hand, that Sunday’s election day was “transparent, the austere campaigns and the free vote”.

“If we wanted to change the Judiciary to control it, what would be the point of making a universal choice? We had better change the Constitution to put ministers in the mode (…) Yes, Mexico is the most democratic country in the world,” he said.

The election day, in which almost 100 million citizens were called to the polls, took place “in an orderly manner” and without significant incidents, according to the INE.

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The American country had its first popular election to renew 881 federal judicial positions, including the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN), in addition to electing hundreds of local positions.

The process has been questioned by academic sectors, international organizations and judicial associations due to the complexity and lack of information among voters, as well as the risk of the infiltration of organized crime into the judiciary.

International

Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions

Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.

“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.

“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.

The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.

Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.

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Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.

International

Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight

The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.

Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.

Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.

In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.

While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.

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The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.

Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.

International

Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo

Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.

The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.

The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.

According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.

The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”

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However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”

These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.