International
A candidate for the Supreme Court denounces an unequal dispute in the judicial election of Mexico
Carlos Enrique Odriozola has no party or structure. Nor does it enjoy reflectors or previous positions in the Judiciary. And yet, he competes for a chair in the Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) of Mexico in an unprecedented electoral process that, he assures, is unequal and is marked by citizen apathy.
“There is no even floor, we are not all starting from the same base,” he says in an interview with EFE about the campaigns to seek the vote that began on March 30.
He assures that there are candidates who arrive at the historic judicial election in Mexico with an armed network, with resources, with exposure, while competitors like him just now take to the streets to present themselves to the people.
The lawyer has been litigating in courts and tribunals throughout Mexico for 30 years, also before the Court.
To his credit, he says, he has at least 40 theses of jurisprudence on human rights issues, obtained through strategic litigation.
His motivation for reaching the highest court in the country is that “the Supreme Court has the possibility of permeating the entire judicial raming. From there you can achieve a real impact on people’s lives.”
Odriozola recognizes the value of the judicial reform that for the first time will allow 3,422 citizens, on June 1, to compete in elections for one of the 881 positions in courts, tribunals, the new Court of Judicial Discipline, the Electoral Tribunal and the Supreme Court, but also points out the vices.
“Some candidates could feel like puppets of a simulation. Possibly because we are candidates who have no structure. If they chose us so that people can get to know us and can value who is really willing to make a change and if people vote for us, it may be that that change is possible,” he says.
The candidate, who will identify himself with the number 57 on the ballots in the judicial election of Mexico, remembers having filed a formal complaint with the National Electoral Institute (INE) so that the participations are not so unequal, but has not yet received a response.
Odriozola details that he continues his campaign without paying for campaigns on networks and with limited presence in Mexico City until May, the last 28 days of his campaign, when he will go out to tour the country.
“We are going to 15% of the campaign (spending) ceiling,” he confesses. “Because we haven’t traveled much either and we plan to do it from May, especially with the friendly invitations that they have already started to make us in some entities,” he adds.
In addition to the imbalance between candidacies, Odriozola faces another challenge: the indifference of the electorate to a historic moment.
“I see people with a lot of discouragement. They don’t have confidence in the process, in the generality of people. There is not enough information or even understanding of what is being voted on, despite its importance,” he acknowledges.
His call is direct: “Not participating is handing over the Court to the structures.”
“Regomidde the fact that one can agree with the process, it is the process that exists and it is the only way that citizens have today to get to court,” he adds.
Odriozola proposes to integrate his presentation with a team selected by public competition, with gender parity, inclusive approach and respect for human rights.
“I want to make my presentation a microcosm of very prepared lawyers, very conscious, with a lot of social awareness,” he says.
It also proposes to effectively monitor jurisprudence and ensure that judgments are not only understood, but that they are executed.
He claims not to want “paper judgments”, that the treatment with the parties involved is equal, so he proposes to receive all equally and avoid “selective ear” pleas and so that “they can leave with the certainty” that “their evidence was evaluated.”
And in front of the new Judicial Discipline Court, he says not to be afraid.
“Since I am not going to commit acts of corruption and I am only going to proceed with all probity, I am not pressured or impressed by the existence of that court,” he concludes.
International
Salvadoran National Arrested in New Jersey with Over 70 Machine Gun Conversion Devices
The U.S. Department of Justice announced the arrest of 21-year-old Salvadoran national Erick Márquez Cruz after authorities allegedly discovered more than 70 machine gun conversion devices and other firearm-related components during a search of his residence in North Bergen, New Jersey.
According to the Justice Department, law enforcement officers executed a search warrant on June 25 at Cruz’s home, where they recovered a 3D printer that was allegedly being used to manufacture firearm components. Investigators also seized 17 3D-printed firearm frames, magazines, and more than 70 machine gun conversion devices (MCDs).
Federal authorities explained that the conversion devices, which are classified as machine guns under U.S. law, are designed to convert semiautomatic firearms into fully automatic weapons capable of firing multiple rounds with a single pull of the trigger.
Cruz has been charged with unlawful possession of a machine gun. If convicted, he faces a maximum sentence of 10 years in federal prison and a fine of up to $250,000, or twice the gross financial gain resulting from the offense, whichever is greater.
International
Venezuela Earthquakes Spark Diplomatic Thaw With Former Critics
The devastating earthquakes that struck Venezuela have triggered an unprecedented diplomatic thaw between Caracas and several governments that had maintained strained relations with the country, raising hopes that the humanitarian response could pave the way for broader international engagement under the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump.
The United States, Chile, Argentina, El Salvador and Israel were among the first countries to announce humanitarian assistance, deploy search-and-rescue teams or establish direct contact with acting President Delcy Rodríguez to coordinate relief efforts in the hardest-hit areas.
Canada also joined the international response by announcing humanitarian aid while opening a domestic debate over the importance of maintaining diplomatic representation in countries such as Venezuela to better respond to emergencies and assist its citizens abroad.
The wave of international cooperation marks a sharp contrast to the diplomatic tensions that followed Venezuela’s disputed presidential election on July 28, 2024, in which Nicolás Maduro was declared the winner.
In the aftermath of that vote, the governments of Argentina, Chile, Costa Rica, Panama, Peru, the Dominican Republic and Uruguay publicly questioned the official election results, triggering one of the region’s most significant diplomatic crises in recent years.
The Venezuelan government responded by withdrawing its diplomatic personnel from several of those countries and demanding the departure of their representatives, further deepening the country’s international isolation.
The humanitarian emergency created by the twin earthquakes has now prompted renewed communication between Caracas and governments that had previously suspended or significantly reduced diplomatic engagement, underscoring how major natural disasters can temporarily reshape international relations despite longstanding political disagreements.
International
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,700 as Search for Survivors Continues
Venezuelan authorities have raised the death toll from last week’s twin earthquakes to more than 1,700, as rescue teams continue searching for survivors in the country’s hardest-hit coastal region.
According to the latest official report released on Sunday, the powerful earthquakes, measuring magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5, have claimed at least 1,719 lives. National Assembly President Jorge Rodríguez also reported that 5,034 people were injured, while 15,866 have been displaced and another 22,619 are receiving medical care.
The United Nations has expressed growing concern over the scale of the disaster, estimating that as many as 68,000 people could still be missing.
La Guaira bears the brunt of the disaster
The coastal state of La Guaira has suffered the greatest loss of life and the most extensive damage. The Venezuelan government has declared the area a disaster zone and placed it under military control as emergency operations continue.
Five days after the earthquakes struck, search-and-rescue teams remain on the ground, supported by additional heavy equipment and international rescue crews. However, hopes of finding more survivors beneath the rubble continue to diminish with each passing day.
One of the most dramatic rescue operations unfolded Monday in Catia La Mar, where emergency teams from El Salvador, Mexico, and Venezuela worked together to reach a 21-year-old man who has remained trapped inside a collapsed building since the earthquakes struck.
The twin earthquakes hit Venezuela on June 24, with the epicenter located between San Felipe and Yumare in the country’s northern region. The first quake, measuring magnitude 7.2, struck at 6:04 p.m. local time. Just 39 seconds later, a second and stronger magnitude 7.5 earthquake occurred farther to the southeast. Combined, the seismic activity lasted nearly three minutes, causing widespread devastation across several regions of the country.
Salvadoran National Arrested in New Jersey with Over 70 Machine Gun Conversion Devices
Venezuela Earthquakes Spark Diplomatic Thaw With Former Critics
Venezuela Earthquake Death Toll Surpasses 1,700 as Search for Survivors Continues
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