Mexico’s proposed constitutional reform: a risk to legal predictability and to a trusted EU-Mexico relationship

Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s recent proposed constitutional reform would establish direct elections for Supreme Court justices, circuit magistrates and district judges, replacing the merit-based appointment system, while also eliminating independent regulatory bodies in the energy field, and other decentralized entities.While the Mexican government’s intent to strengthen the judiciary and tackle corruption in the justice system is understandable, the current approach poses serious risks to the investment climate and the broader economic integration of Mexico with its key trading partners, including the EU. Given the importance and the urgency of this issue, the European Commission should raise these concerns with its Mexican counterparts.