Mexico's judicial elections see just 13% turnout despite Sheinbaum's 'success' claim

Mexico's ambitious attempt to overhaul its judicial system through nationwide elections has met with a tepid response from voters. Despite President Claudia Sheinbaum hailing the process as a success, turnout was estimated at just 13% of eligible voters, a stark contrast to the 60% participation in recent presidential elections. The poll, unprecedented in its scale, aimed to select nearly 3,000 judicial posts, including supreme court justices. Critics argue that this approach may allow the ruling MORENA party to consolidate power across all branches of government, potentially compromising judicial independence. The low turnout has been attributed to voter confusion, lack of information about candidates, and broader scepticism about electing judges rather than appointing them based on qualifications. As results trickle in, questions linger about whether this democratic experiment will address Mexico's broken justice system, where less than 10% of crimes are reported due to public distrust. The outcome of these elections could have far-reaching implications for the balance of power in Mexican governance. Al Jazeera's John Holman reports from Mexico City. Subscribe to our channel: http://bit.ly/AJSubscribe Follow us on X: https://twitter.com/AJEnglish Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/aljazeera Check our website: http://www.aljazeera.com/ Check out our Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/aljazeeraenglish/ Download AJE Mobile App: https://aje.io/AJEMobile #Mexico #MexicoJudicialElections #ClaudiaSheinbaum #Mexico #MORENA #JudicialIndependence #MexicoDemocracy #Impunity #MexicoLegalReform #AlJazeeraEnglish