August 30th, 2024
1. AMLO Pauses Relationship with Ambassadors
Following criticisms from U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar and Canadian Ambassador Graeme Clark regarding the judicial reform, which is set to be voted on in early September, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced that the relationship with both ambassadors is on hold. He emphasized that the relationship with the governments of both countries remains active at the governmental level.
He added that this pause is due to the ambassadors’ positions on issues that are exclusively within Mexico’s jurisdiction. After these statements, both governments explained that they respect Mexico’s sovereignty but maintain a cautious stance regarding the risks that these changes might entail.
The New York Times: México pone en pausa la relación diplomática con EE. UU. por críticas a su propuesta judicial.
CNN en Español: López Obrador: La relación con Estados Unidos y Canadá continúa.
2. Morena Achieves Qualified Majority in Deputies, Seeks to Complete in the Senate
The Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF) approved the project confirming the composition of the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate for the LXVI Legislature. The allocation of seats gives Morena and its allies 364 of 500 deputies, exceeding the number needed to achieve a qualified majority in votes.
In the Senate, Morena and its allies secured 83 seats, leaving them 3 legislators short of achieving a qualified majority, which would allow them to validate constitutional changes and other legislative projects. On Wednesday, two elected senators from an opposition party announced their affiliation with the officialist caucus, bringing Morena within one legislator of achieving a qualified majority in both Chambers.
CNN en Español: Morena consigue mayoría calificada en el Congreso tras aprobación del Tribunal Electoral.
El Financiero: Tribunal Electoral lo hace oficial: Morena logra la mayoría calificada en la Cámara de Diputados.
3. Tension Rises Ahead of Judicial Reform Approval
Workers from the Federal Judiciary (PJF) continue protests and demonstrations against the Judicial Reform proposed by Andrés Manuel López Obrador. As the approval of the reform in the Chamber of Deputies approaches, various sectors of society have joined in solidarity with the workers and to criticize the democratic implications of the reform.
With the vote scheduled for early September, President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum urged deputies to approve the reform in September to announce the call for the election of judges, magistrates, and ministers in October of this year.
El Universal: ¡La justicia no se vota! aseguran trabajadores del Poder Judicial que continúan protestas contra reforma de AMLO.
El Universal: Sheinbaum fija la ruta para la reforma judicial.
4. LXVI Legislature Inaugurated, Directing Boards Appointed
With the swearing-in of elected legislators and the formation of the Directing Boards, the LXVI Legislature’s work was inaugurated. In the Senate, Gerardo Fernández Noroña of Morena will serve as president of the Directing Board during the first year of the legislature.
In the Chamber of Deputies, the 500 elected deputies took office and approved Ifigenia Martínez and Hernández as President of the Chamber. Additionally, the parliamentary coordinators were confirmed, who will represent each party’s group of legislators during the legislature.
5. Banxico Lowers 2024 Forecast; External Factors Cited
The Bank of Mexico (Banxico) announced a reduction in its growth forecast for 2024 and 2025. The institution now estimates that the Mexican GDP will grow by 1.5% in 2024, down from its previous forecast of 2.4%. For 2025, the expectation was lowered from 1.5% to 1.2%.
Victoria Rodríguez, Banxico’s governor, warned that external factors such as the U.S. economy, global electoral processes, and national public spending contribute to this economic outlook.
El Financiero: Pronóstico de Banxico para economía de México se ‘desploma’: Cae a 1.5% para 2024.