Mexico’s Ruling Party Nears Majority in Both Houses Congress After 2 Senators Defect

MEXICO CITY — On Wednesday, Mexico’s ruling Morena party announced that it is inching closer to securing a supermajority in both houses of Congress, following the defection of two opposition senators. This development positions the Morena party, led by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to potentially consolidate a two-thirds majority in the Senate, adding to its existing supermajority in the lower house.

The two senators, Araceli Saucedo and José Sabino, previously affiliated with the now-defunct Democratic Revolution Party (PRD), switched allegiance to Morena. The PRD had lost its national party status after failing to achieve the minimum 3% vote threshold in the June 2 elections.

With the defections, Morena is now just one vote short of a two-thirds majority in the Senate. This supermajority would enable the party to advance sweeping constitutional reforms, including a controversial proposal that would require all judges to stand for election. Critics argue that such a measure would undermine judicial independence and further centralize power in the presidency. U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, has expressed concerns, suggesting that the changes could destabilize Mexico’s democracy and impact the U.S.-Mexico economic relationship.

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President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum, a member of López Obrador’s party, confirmed the defections and indicated that the two senators had joined Morena’s bloc in the Senate. The move has been met with strong condemnation from former opposition allies. Xóchitl Gálvez, a former opposition presidential candidate, denounced the defectors as "traitors" to democracy, criticizing their shift from previously stated positions against party-switching.

Social media users have highlighted campaign videos from the defectors in which they had pledged not to change parties, further fueling criticism. Sen. José Sabino had criticized opportunistic politicians in his campaign, pledging loyalty to his original party.

Sheinbaum's incoming administration faces criticism for the appointment of Sen. Gerardo Fernández Noroña as the Senate leader. Fernández Noroña is known for his provocative speeches and refusal to comply with COVID-19 safety protocols, which has raised concerns about his leadership style. In the lower house, Rep. Adán Augusto López, known for his old-school political tactics, will lead Congress. 

The Morena party’s two-thirds majority in the lower house has been officially ratified by the electoral court, clearing the way for about 20 proposed constitutional amendments. Morena is also likely to gain one additional Senate vote from smaller parties, further securing its position. The constitutional changes will need to be approved by two-thirds of Mexico’s state legislatures, of which Morena and its allies control around two dozen of the 32 states.

U.S. Ambassador Salazar's warning about the judicial reforms has sparked a diplomatic rift, with López Obrador suspending relations with the U.S. Embassy in response to the criticism. The proposed reforms, according to Salazar, could benefit criminal organizations and disrupt economic and political stability, posing long-term risks for both Mexico and its international relationships.