Explanation

Mexico became the world’s first country to allow voters to elect judges at all levels on Wednesday, after protesters invaded the upper house and suspended debate on the issue. Outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador had pushed hard for the reform and criticised the current judicial system for serving the interests of the political and economic elite. The reform was approved with 86 votes in favor and 41 against, garnering the two-thirds majority needed to amend the constitution, in an upper chamber dominated by the ruling Morena party and its allies. Debate on the reform had sparked mass demonstrations, diplomatic tensions and investor jitters.