Mexico's ruling party Morena took another step toward amassing more power after the Senate approved on Friday a controversial law aimed at eliminating two autonomous government watchdogs,
The bodies, which include those regulating antitrust issues and the country's large energy industry, will be absorbed by existing ministries in the federal government. The lower house had already approved the measure, introduced by former President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO) before he left office.
The move is set to eliminate the transparency institute (INAI), the antitrust regulator (Cofece), the telecommunications watchdog (IFT), the energy regulator (CRE), the hydrocarbon regulator (CNH), the commission for oversight of education (Mejoredu), among others, Bloomberg reported.
Morena lawmakers argue the changes will reduce public spending and help fight corruption. Critics, in contrast, say they will reduce transparency and create doubts about how the private sector will do business with the country's state energy firms.
Some have also voiced concern about the law potentially violating the North America free trade agreement (USMCA), saying the antitrust body will be independent despite being under the government's sphere of influence.
The reservations regarding the bill are part of a broader concern over whether the government is systematically removing checks and balances, taking advantage of its supermajority in both chambers of Congress.
The most controversial initiative, which allows judges to be appointed by popular vote rather than merit, has already been implemented. Over 34,000 people have already registered as candidates for 881 posts.
The move has sparked street protests and diplomatic tensions, and prompted eight of the country's 11 Supreme Court justices (including its president) to rule themselves out of consideration for the first election round next year.
Critics fear that elected judges could be swayed by politics and be vulnerable to pressure from drug cartels, which use bribery and intimidation to influence officials.
The move was enacted just before AMLO left office. It sparked diplomatic friction with economic partners the United States and Canada, upset financial markets and prompted a series of protests by judicial workers and other opponents.
During his six years in office, Lopez Obrador often criticized the Supreme Court, which impeded some of his policy initiatives in areas such as energy and security.
Washington has warned the reforms threaten a relationship that relies on investor confidence in the Mexican legal framework.
The first election for 881 judges is set for June 1 next year, after a vetting process. Another round will take place in 2027.
With information from AFP
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