Politics: A sweeping scandal involving the Judiciary and the Executive tarnishes the entire system
The Supreme Court announced on April 12 that it had ordered the Council of the Federal Judiciary to launch an investigation into an anonymous complaint of widespread acts of corruption by officials of the Judicial Branch during Arturo Zaldívar's time as Chief Justice of the Court (January 2019 to December 2022). The Council was also ordered to sanction those responsible in instances in which it determines the allegations are real. Although many accusations are directed directly at Zaldívar, the Council is not entitled to investigate a former Chief Justice, but the Supreme Court may later decide whether to undertake an investigation of him on its own. One recurring theme in the complaint is the extent to which judges and other authorities were pressured to manage cases to favor the interests of the current administration.
President López Obrador responded by defending Zaldívar and reiterating his criticism of the Judicial Power. But even AMLO has refrained from embracing the former chief justice’s calls for impeaching current Court and Judiciary head Norma Piña as a means of counterattack. While also defending Zaldivar, presidential candidate Claudia Sheinbaum has also remained silent on the impeachment demand, obviously concerned by the extent to which the scandal could affect her presidential ambitions.
The immediate consequence of the alleged practices that constitute a nullification of the independence of the Judiciary is the discretionary use of justice for political purposes. The government's actions lose their legal bases and they sidestep legal limits, making them arbitrary acts that affect the rights of citizens. Although the presidency itself is at the center of the scandal, it will not be investigated or sanctioned because there is no criminal complaint in the Attorney General's Office; the investigation is reduced to the judicial sphere, where the Council of the Federal Judiciary does have powers.
This week we offer a breakdown of the accusations and their wider implications for the credibility of the entire system in this crucial election year.
Now read on...
Register to sample a report