Mexico's ruling bloc appears to secure Senate votes for judicial reform

Party in power eyes Supreme Court control

MEXICO CITY, June 13 (Reuters) - Mexico's ruling party looked set to secure enough votes to approve a judicial reform in the Senate on Monday, giving it control over the Supreme Court and other judicial bodies.

President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador's National Regeneration Movement (MORENA) party and its allies needed 85 votes to pass the changes. Around midday, the party had secured at least 81, with three swing votes from the opposition Institutional Revolutionary Party (PRI), two sources told Reuters.

The reform would increase the Supreme Court from 11 to 15 justices and allow Lopez Obrador to appoint four new members, giving him and his allies a majority on the court. It would also extend the terms of the court president and other justices from 15 to 20 years.

Opposition concerns

Critics of the reform say it will erode the independence of the judiciary, which is enshrined in Mexico's constitution. The PRI has also raised concerns, but the three votes it has given to MORENA would allow the changes to pass.

The PRI has a history of collaborating with MORENA on key votes, and the fact it has not rejected the reform outright suggests it may be negotiating for concessions in the future.

The United States has also expressed concerns about the reform, saying it could weaken the rule of law in Mexico.

The changes, which have been approved by Mexico's lower house, would also grant Lopez Obrador greater influence over the National Judicial Council, which selects and promotes judges.

The reform has drawn criticism from the opposition, which says it will undermine the independence of the judiciary.

If the reform is approved, it would be a significant victory for Lopez Obrador, who has made judicial reform a priority of his presidency. The reform would give him the power to appoint a majority of the Supreme Court justices, which would likely ensure that his policies are supported by the court.

The reform has been met with opposition from the United States, which has expressed concerns that it could weaken the rule of law in Mexico. The European Union has also raised concerns about the reform.

The reform is expected to be approved by the Senate on Monday.

Analysts say reform could weaken judiciary

Analysts say the reform could weaken the independence of the judiciary and give Lopez Obrador too much power over the judicial system.

The reform would increase the number of Supreme Court justices from 11 to 15, and allow Lopez Obrador to appoint four new members. This would give him a majority on the court, which would likely ensure that his policies are supported by the court.

The reform would also extend the terms of the court president and other justices from 15 to 20 years. This would give Lopez Obrador more time to appoint his own justices to the court.

The reform has been met with opposition from the opposition, which says it will undermine the independence of the judiciary. The United States and the European Union have also raised concerns about the reform.

Reform likely to be approved

The reform is expected to be approved by the Senate on Monday. If it is approved, it would be a significant victory for Lopez Obrador.

The reform would represent a major shift in the balance of power in Mexico. It would give Lopez Obrador greater control over the judiciary, which would likely enable him to implement his policies more easily.

The reform has raised concerns about the independence of the judiciary and the rule of law in Mexico. However, it is likely to be approved by the Senate, as Lopez Obrador's party has a majority.