International

Mexican president to submit new nominees for Supreme Court Justice amid opposition

Photo: El Universal

December 1 |

During his regular morning press conference, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador revealed that on Thursday, he will send a new list of candidates to the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) with the goal of selecting a new justice.

This follows the rejection of the initial list by the Senate opposition, who deemed the nominees too close to the president. López Obrador responded, “It is a source of pride for me.” Despite this, he stated that he would make “some changes,” but it is likely that some of the names will remain.

“This is the procedure: a list is sent, and a qualified majority is needed to choose, in this case, the justice who will go to the Supreme Court of Justice. Qualified majority means more than a simple majority, not just half plus one vote. I believe that today we will send the new list,” said López Obrador.

For any of the proposals to succeed, a qualified majority of two-thirds of the votes in the Senate is required. However, the opposition questioned and blocked these proposals, considering them an exercise of nepotism and a violation of the independence of the Judiciary.

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Mexican law allows the president to directly appoint the new Supreme Court justice. Still, López Obrador stated that he does not want to use this option, saying, “I want the Senate to decide. I hope they decide there, come to an agreement,” he added.

López Obrador took the opportunity to deny speculation that he would nominate the current Attorney General of Mexico City, Ernestina Godoy, who has not yet been confirmed in the position, stating that there is a “political vendetta.”

During his tenure, the Mexican president has set a record by nominating five of the 11 members of the Supreme Court.

Related Topics:Manuel López Obrador SCJN

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