The World Briefly

April 20, 2023

No, Sir

Mexico

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Mexico’s top court struck down part of a law that would put day-to-day public security forces under military control, a verdict that deals a blow to President Andrés Manuel López Obrador who pushed for the legislation, the Financial Times reported.

The case centers on Mexico’s National Guard, which the populist leader created in 2019 to replace the country’s Federal Police. While initially under civilian control, Mexico’s Congress passed legislation last year that would put the National Guard under the operational and financial control of the defense ministry.

But on Tuesday, the Supreme Court ruled against the law’s implementation and said the National Guard must remain under civilian control.

The decision marks a major setback for López Obrador, who has come to rely on the military and has also expanded its responsibility, such as putting it in charge of customs as well as building and operating infrastructure.

The president has also hailed the army as being more trustworthy and efficient than existing authorities. But critics warned that the expanded powers allow him to bypass regulations on transparency and planning.

In October, Congress extended the military’s ability to continue performing domestic law enforcement duties until 2028. Previously, that role was set to expire in 2024. In polls, the Mexican population has shown more faith in the military than in the police, the Associated Press wrote.

Observers indicated that the court’s decision put a significant dampener on militarization in Mexico, an issue that had been simmering for more than a decade but has accelerated under López Obrador.

This story originally appeared in the April 20, 2023 newsletter, Wanted: A Government.