Business Leaders Concerned About Judiciary Reform

Francisco Cervantes, President, Business Coordinating Council (CCE), highlighted growing concern among the Mexican business sector regarding the recent initiatives to reform the judiciary and eliminate autonomous bodies promoted by the current administration. Although CCE does not yet have a concrete estimate of the impact on investments, Cervantes highlighted the widespread anxiety about these changes.

During the swearing-in ceremony for the new president of Coparmex, Adalberto Ortiz, and the local board for the 2024-2026 term, Cervantes announced that discussions with legislators will begin next week to address the judicial reform and the proposal to eliminate Constitutional Autonomous Bodies (OCA).

The draft report argues that this structural change aims to prioritize “general” over private interests, in line with the national legal framework that supports the effective exercise of human rights and access to national common goods. This restructuring seeks to align public administration with principles of rationality, austerity, efficiency, and effectiveness. The draft also references the National Development Plan 2019-2024, which asserts that "the market does not replace the State."

To dissolve CRE, CNH, and COFECE, the draft proposes amending Art. 28 of the Constitution. The responsibilities and resources of CRE and CNH will be transferred to SENER, while those of COFECE will go to the Ministry of Economy. Transitional articles specify that ongoing matters will continue under the current regulations until the new decree takes effect, if approved. Commissioners' terms will end with the decree’s enactment, but autonomous bodies’ employees will be transferred to the appropriate agencies, with their labor rights safeguarded, as reported by MBN. However, Morena coordinator, Deputy Ignacio Mier Velasco, suggested that the initiative might not be approved before the LXV Legislature ends on Aug. 30, arguing that there is no rush to implement it.

"Our vision and stance are to discuss all these issues based on data. I believe our role, with the historical responsibility we carry, is to assume, convince, dialogue, and truly study this matter," stated Ortiz. 

Meanwhile, Gabriel Aguirre, Vice President of Communication, Coparmex, rejected the idea that the organization's role is to react to government decisions, such as the elimination of the OCA. He agreed with Ortiz on the need to engage in dialogue with legislators, emphasizing that it is not a "simplistic" step.

"It is crucial to advance our ability to converse from Coparmex Nacional and, of course, from Coparmex Ciudad de México with legislators so they can understand this dynamic. Hopefully, legislators can gain clarity on these demands, even at an international level, to ensure this does not proceed," he stated.