- Preliminary results show Morena allies winning most Supreme Court seats.
- Judicial overhaul marks a major shift in Mexico’s balance of power.
- Critics warn of weakened checks and risk of centralized authority.
Mexico’s first judicial elections are reshaping the nation’s political landscape, with preliminary results showing the ruling Morena party poised to control the Supreme Court.
Observers warn this development could consolidate Morena’s grip on all three branches of government, potentially eroding institutional independence.
Critics Alarmed as Mexico’s Ruling Party Nears Full Governmental Control
The judicial reform, passed last year, was championed by Morena as a way to combat corruption and bring accountability to a judiciary long viewed with skepticism. However, opponents argue the process has politicized the courts instead of cleansing them. The Supreme Court’s role as a neutral arbiter may now be compromised, especially with justices elected based on ideological alignment.
Among the new justices, Hugo Aguilar Ortiz stood out as an exception—an independent Indigenous lawyer from Oaxaca. His top-ranking vote count contrasts with the predominantly Morena-aligned winners, offering a potential voice of balance within an increasingly partisan court.
The low voter turnout and voter confusion have raised serious questions about the effectiveness and legitimacy of this new electoral process. Many voters struggled to understand the unfamiliar ballots, and civic education around the reform appears to have been lacking.
With Morena-aligned figures potentially in control of the judiciary, experts anticipate the party will push through additional structural reforms, including changes to electoral laws. This could further entrench Morena’s influence and make it harder for future administrations to reverse the course.
Mexico’s shift to elected judges, while framed as democratic progress, may mark a turning point where power becomes dangerously concentrated in one party’s hands.
“We’re watching as power is falling almost entirely into the hands of one party.” – Georgina De la Fuente, Strategia Electoral
