Protesters storm Mexico’s Senate after ruling party wins votes for court overhaul
It has spooked investors and prompted U.S. Ambassador Ken Salazar to call it a “risk” to democracy and an economic threat.
The Tuesday break-in by protesters was met by sharp criticism by some like Morena senator Andrea Chávez, who wrote in a post on X: “Violently breaking into the plenary session where we, the representatives of the people, deliberate is not a way to resolve differences.”
Others like Mayuli Martínez Simón, a PAN senator, cast the blame on the ruling party as they stood on the Senate floor among throngs of protesters. As she did, protesters trickled out, headed to another building where senators restarted their debate. Protesters once again tried to enter the alternate location, ending in clashes with police forces, which set off tear gas.
“With absence of dialogue from Morena, today this is what we’re seeing. The citizens, Mexicans, took over the Senate, entering with force. It’s not the best, but we didn’t have any other option,” she told the Associated Press in an interview.
Meanwhile, the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court Norma Piña, whose position would be subject to elections, called for Mexico’s Senate to hear the voices of protesters, and called for peace.
Piña “reiterates the call for listening, legal and institutional channels and peaceful, open and responsible dialogue as the way to resolve our differences and move towards the reconciliation and peace that Mexico needs,” posted the Supreme Court on X.
