Mexico City, Mexico - August 27, 2024

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said on Tuesday that he has put relations with the U.S., Canadian embassies in Mexico City "on pause" after the ambassadors of the two countries expressed their apprehension over his administration's proposed judicial reforms.

"They have to learn to respect Mexico's sovereignty, it's no small matter," Lopez Obrador told reporters at the National Palace in Mexico City at his usual daily press conference.

Ties with the embassy will stay paused until the diplomatic outpost clears up what was said regarding the reform initiative, said the Mexican president, adding that the bilateral relationship with the U.S. government continues as always.

For the same reason, Lopez Obrador also announced to freeze relations with the Canadian embassy in Mexico City.

Mexico's President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, who will take office in October, and Foreign Minister Alicia Barcena have both expressed their support for Lopez Obrador's decision.

Later on Tuesday, U.S. Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar responded to Lopez Obrador's move in a diplomatic note, reiterating that the United States has the "utmost respect for Mexico's sovereignty."

Salazar also expressed the hope to maintain close cooperation with Mexico.

The ruling Morena party and its coalition won a majority in Mexico's bicameral Congress in general elections this June, pledging efforts to launch judicial reforms which include 20 measures.

On Aug. 22, Salazar said the reform's proposal to have judges elected by popular vote instead of being political appointments, as they are now, represented a risk to democracy and would weaken economic integration.

Shotlist:
Mexico City, Mexico - Aug 27, 2024:
FILE: Mexico City, Mexico - June 2, 2019
1. Mexican national flag;
FILE: Mexico City, Mexico - Date Unknown
2. Various of Angel of Independence Monument;
Mexico City, Mexico - Aug 27, 2024
3. U.S. embassy in Mexico;
FILE: Mexico City, Mexico - Date Unknown
4. Various of traffic, pedestrians;
FILE: Washington D.C., USA - Date Unknown
5. Various of White House, U.S. national flag;
FILE: Ottawa, Canada - Oct 18, 2017
6. Various of Parliament Hill, national flags of Canada, pedestrians.

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