MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -A controversial reform of Mexico’s judiciary is set to be debated in Congress on Sunday, a leading ruling party lawmaker said, but will not be approved the same day amid friction with Canada and the United States who have criticized the reform saying it could impact investment and trade.
Canada’s government said on Wednesday that it respects Mexico’s sovereignty but that investors have expressed concern over the reform, which would elect judges – including Supreme Court justices – by popular vote.
That comes after strong criticism from U.S. ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, who has called the reform a “major risk to the functioning of Mexico’s democracy.”
Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday said he had paused relations with the Canadian and U.S. embassies in the country over their criticisms, which he said disrespected Mexico’s sovereignty. He stressed the pause was only with the embassies, and not with the countries.
Ricardo Monreal, who will lead the ruling party in the lower house when it begins session on Sept. 1, said later on Tuesday the reform would be debated on Sunday though it would not be approved the same day as it would be debated with “no rush”.
“There will be no rush, there will be dialogue to reach the best understanding in the chamber,” said Monreal.
Thousands of judicial workers in Mexico are on strike protesting the proposed reform.
(Reporting by Ana Isabel Martinez in Mexico City and David Ljunggren in Ottawa; Writing by Sarah Morland, Editing by Kylie Madry and Stephen Eisenhammer)
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