With a decisive vote from Partido Acción Nacional (PAN) Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez, Morena party, the Partido del Trabajo (PT), and Partido Verde Ecologista de México (PVEM) passed the judicial reform bill with 86 votes in favor and 41 against from the PAN, Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI), and Movimiento Ciudadno (MC).
This sets the stage for open elections in 2025, where judges, ministers, and magistrates will be chosen by popular vote. Notably absent was MC Senator Daniel Barreda, who was in Campeche due to his father’s detention.
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“It's done, the reform has passed,” boasted Morena and its allies after the midnight vote. Earlier, protesters and judiciary workers had forced their way into the Senate, disrupting the session. Senators, however, continued proceedings in the Old House of Xicoténcatl, under heavy police security.
The session was chaotic, with shouting, shoving, and accusations flying. PAN, PRI, and MC attempted to take over the Senate floor, claiming that Barreda was being “held hostage” by the Campeche prosecutor's office—claims Barreda himself denied later that evening. Meanwhile, Morena senators formed a human barricade to protect the Senate's leadership table, ensuring the session continued.
“The opposition has no integrity. Senator Barreda is free; no one is being held against their will. I have tolerated insults, but this session will continue,” said Senate President Gerardo Fernández Noroña amidst the uproar.
Tensions escalated when PAN Senator Miguel Ángel Yunes Márquez announced his support for the reform, calling it the hardest decision of his life. Before this, Yunes Márquez had requested leave, allowing his father, Miguel Ángel Yunes Linares, to step in as his substitute. This move triggered a clash between the former Veracruz governor and PAN leader Marko Cortés, with accusations of betrayal.
The heated session saw PAN Coordinator Guadalupe Murguía warning that the reform signals the death of Mexican democracy. At the same time, MC leader Clemente Castañeda declared that the country was on the brink of autocracy. PRI Senator Claudia Anaya Mota echoed these concerns, calling the reform the death of the Republic. Morena, PT, and PVEM argued that the reform would democratize the judiciary and eliminate corruption.
In response, PAN’s Ricardo Anaya accused Morena of seeking complete control over selecting candidates for judges, ministers, and magistrates.
Around 11 p.m., MC Senator Daniel Barreda clarified to local media in Campeche that his father’s legal troubles prevented him from attending the vote, confirming that he was never detained.
What’s next for the judicial reform?
The bill now moves to the state legislatures for further discussion and voting. If at least 17 of the 32 state congresses approve it, the reform will return to the Senate before being sent to the Federal Executive for publication in the Official Gazette. Once published, the National Electoral Institute will begin organizing the elections for judicial positions, scheduled for the first Sunday of July 2025.