U.S. Ambassador’s statement deemed unfortunate and imprudent by President López Obrador

Mexico City, August 23, 2024.- "We do not accept interference. We do not accept representatives of foreign governments intervening in matters that only we Mexicans have the right to address and decide," stated President Andrés Manuel López Obrador as he made public the diplomatic note sent by our government to the United States through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He continued:

"Recently, there have been acts disrespecting our sovereignty, such as yesterday's unfortunate and imprudent statement by Ambassador Ken Salazar. I hope this does not happen again."

President López Obrador explained that the proposed reform of the Judicial Branch is due to its being plagued by corruption and serving a rapacious minority. It protects white-collar criminals, both domestic and foreign, and is controlled by heads of criminal organizations.

Therefore, by allowing the people to elect the magistrates, judges, and ministers, it will be possible to begin to clean up corruption, because the officials will know that they represent the people, and their duty is to administer justice.

"What violation is being committed? Doesn't Article 39 of our Constitution establish that the people have the right to change their form of their government at any time? Why don't you want the people to elect the magistrates and ministers?"

President López Obrador also emphasized that the U.S. government is also intervening by giving money to organizations that allegedly defend human rights but in reality, are dedicated to undermining our government, and he reiterated that Ambassador Ken Salazar's statement refers to matters exclusively within the sovereign authority of the Mexican State. Reading from the diplomatic note, he said:

"This represents an unacceptable action of interference, contravenes the sovereignty of the United Mexican States, and does not reflect the degree of mutual respect that characterizes the relations between our governments."

After recounting historical episodes that exemplify the interventionism of the U.S. government, the President said that we must keep them in mind to defend Mexico's independence and sovereignty, and not submit to any foreign power.

"It's not just the United States; no hegemony, no foreign country can dictate policies that Mexicans alone should decide, as in this case; this is an overtly interventionist attitude."

President López Obrador said that the Mexican government would also send a diplomatic note to Canada. He dismissed any effects on the USMCA:

"It won't have any impact; that's a separate matter. It's part of the propaganda and -with all due respect- the interference."

The complete text of the diplomatic note, also available for download at https://t.ly/UT5qs follows:

SRE/1052/2024. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs extends its cordial greetings to the Embassy of the United States of America in the United Mexican States and refers to Ambassador Ken Salazar's statement of today, in which he expresses his opinion regarding the proposed judicial reform of the United Mexican States.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its deep concern at Ambassador Salazar's comments on domestic and entirely sovereign matters. The government of the United Mexican States emphasizes that the primary objective of the constitutional reform initiative is to strengthen the rule of law by reforming the Judicial Branch through democratic procedures enshrined in the Political Constitution of the United Mexican States.

The Mexican government is committed to a Judicial Branch that enjoys true independence, autonomy, and legitimacy, thus strengthening the rule of law and improving access to justice for all.

Therefore, the statement by the Ambassador of the United States of America expressing a position on this strictly domestic matter of the Mexican State represents unacceptable interference, contravenes the sovereignty of the United Mexican States, and does not reflect the degree of mutual respect that characterizes the relations between our governments.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs takes this opportunity to reiterate to the Embassy of the United States of America in the United Mexican States the assurance of its highest consideration and requests acknowledgment of receipt of this note.

Mexico City, August 22, 2024

--