Wood: Mexico’s judicial system reforms will send shock waves across the border

HARLINGEN, TEXAS – The approval by the Mexican Congress of sweeping judicial system reforms is going to send shock waves across the United States, an expert on bilateral relations said.

Duncan Wood, an Englishman with more than 35 years of international relations and policy experience, predicted as much during a presentation on the impact recent Mexican policy changes, its current president and its president-elect.

“This is pivotal moment in Mexico,” he said. “Mexico matters in a way most people in Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles don’t know about.”

Wood, president and CEO of the Pacific Council on International Policy, said a strong, healthy and vibrant Mexican economy is good for both counties, adding that in 2023 Mexico became the U.S.’s largest trading partner.

As to its political system, he said Mexico has had a populist streak under Andrés Manuel López Obrador, known as AMLO. He said AMLO’s administration has been handing down money to the poor and handpicking one politician after another, including President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum who will take over on Oct. 1 for a six-year term.

Duncan Wood

Wood described AMLO as a master politician who sees himself as Mexico’s Messiah.

He asked himself if Sheimbaum will do what “her jefe,” says or will she be herself?

Wood doubts AMLO will retire to his ranch as he been saying.

On the other hand, he said Sheinbaum is further to left and more nationalistic that the current president.

Following the June 2 presidential election, Wood said the Mexican peso has been losing its value against the U.S. dollar and millions of dollars held in private hands have been leaving the country.

He said this week’s approval by the Mexican Congress of a new judicial system is going to have an impact on trade between the two counties.

“I think it is going to be a shock,” Wood said in an interview before a presentation held Thursday, Sept. 12, at the Harlingen Convention Center that was hosted by the RGV Partnership and Texas Regional Bank. “This is going to cause concern for the review clause of 2026.”

He was referring to a U.S. proposal in the United States, Mexico and Canada negotiations on free trade intended to bring security and predictability between the parties.

Wood said the judicial system reform is going to radically transform how more of Mexico’s 7,000 judges, magistrates and others that are now appointed will sit on the benches.

They will be candidates of the party in power, rather than elected by the people.

Therefore, he predicted, the judicial system will to become highly politicized.

“We are deeply worried. We are deeply concerned,” he said politicians and investors from all over the United States are now saying. “I am also deeply concerned.”

Wood said AMLO is responsible for the approval of an initiative that calls for removing a president half way through his or her term, meaning he could take the seat again.

He said he wishes he could bring better news and added not everything has been lost as people can express their view, write letters and get involved in the process.

Lizzy De La Guerra Putegnat, a member of the audience, asked Wood if today’s Mexican leaders want to turn the county into another Venezuela.

He said he didn’t think so.

Oscar Campos, CEO of the Harlingen Economic Development Corp., said Wood’s presentation was very informative, and also interesting.

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