Tropical Storm John / Reforms

Monday's Morning Conference. President Andrés Manuel López Obrador scheduled a gathering with media representatives next Monday, the final day of his administration, where he will raffle off his watch and unveil his official portrait. "This is the last Q&A session, because Monday will be the big party," stated López Obrador.

Tropical Storm John. The president announced that 25,000 members of the Armed Forces are providing assistance in Guerrero and confirmed the activation of Plan DN-III, the Marina Plan, and the National Guard Plan in response to the arrival of Hurricane John.

The hurricane made landfall on the coasts of Oaxaca and Guerrero at 9:20 p.m. on Monday as a Category 3 hurricane and was subsequently downgraded to a tropical storm at 3:15 a.m. The landfall resulted in at least nine fatalities and significant damage along the coast.

Judicial Reform. The president announced that funding for the elections to select judges, ministers, and magistrates will come from the MX$20 billion (US$1.06 billion) in judicial trust funds. He also noted that the reform initiative to dissolve autonomous agencies will generate additional savings. “Although the elections will not require the full amount, the available resources are more than sufficient,” stated López Obrador.

On Sept. 15, the judicial reform was published in the Official Gazette of the Federation (DOF). The following day, the constitutional amendment took effect, triggering the extraordinary 2024-2025 electoral process to elect ministers, judges, and magistrates through popular vote. The decree was issued despite an order from the Thirty-Second Circuit Collegiate Court to halt its publication. While experts noted that the president, deputies, senators, and state congresses defied a suspension order that should have been enforced, they say it seems unlikely that charges will be brought against the president.

National Guard, Indigenous Reform. López Obrador announced that the reforms concerning the National Guard and Indigenous affairs will be published on Sept. 29.

Congress approved the national guard reform, which aims to transfer administrative and operational control of the National Guard to SEDENA. This renewed effort follows a 2022 proposal that was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court. The reform has faced criticism, with opponents accusing the López Obrador administration of militarizing the country.

Congress also unanimously passed a law recognizing the rights of Indigenous and Afro-Mexican communities. The proposal aims to establish Mexico as a multi-ethnic nation and grants indigenous peoples and communities formal legal recognition as public entities with their own rights and assets. However, indigenous groups have labeled the reform a setback to their rights.

Note: a previous version of this article mistakenly said that this was the last morning conference.