US Ambassador Warns Mexico’s Judiciary Reform Proposal Will Cause ‘Turbulence’

U.S. ambassador Ken Salazar warned on Thursday that a judicial reform proposed by Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador will “create turbulence” in the country’s economy in the coming years. The controversial reform, set for a congressional vote in September, includes a provision requiring judges to be elected by popular vote. Lopez Obrador has said the reform is needed to combat judicial corruption. However, Salazar said that the proposed reform will not address judicial corruption in Mexico or strengthen its judicial branch, but instead poses “a major risk” to the country’s democracy. “It would also weaken the efforts to make North American economic integration a reality and would create turbulence as the debate over direct election will continue over the next several years,” the U.S. envoy said in a statement....