This Sunday, while many of the polling stations set up in the Guadalajara Metropolitan Area were sparsely attended, around 450 people demonstrated against the judicial elections in the historic center of Guadalajara.
Marisol Rivas, an employee of the Federal Institute of Public Defenders of the Federal Judicial Branch, said that citizens are dissatisfied with this process, which, although it may seem democratic, is not.
“This has really been sold to us as democracy, but it isn’t, because we’ve seen all the abuses that have occurred since the law was enacted and everything that has happened with the candidates. We even completely disagree with the fact that citizens won’t be counting votes at the polling stations, but rather at the district councils. Furthermore, unused ballots won’t be destroyed; they’ll be taken away, so that’s not democracy, even if they try to sell it as such,” Rivas stated. Reform is needed, but it must guarantee justice for all.
The employee of the Federal Public Defender’s Institute of the Federal Judiciary mentioned that similar demonstrations have taken place throughout the country and even abroad.
“Here in Jalisco, there are approximately a thousand of us, but this is part of a nationally organized civil society group that has organized marches and rallies throughout the country and even in other countries like the United States and Spain,” the official stated.
Furthermore, Marisol Rivas said that a new federal reform is needed, but it must guarantee access to justice for all Mexicans.
“It has always been said that we are asking for this reform, but when we have the results and see the participation rate, which is expected to be only 5 to 10 percent of citizens who will vote, I think it will be abundantly clear that we citizens are not really asking for reform. We do want a reform of the judiciary, but not this reform, because it does not guarantee access to justice for all Mexicans, which is truly what we need,” she clarified.
There were more protesters than voters in Guadalajara.
Marisol Rivas concluded by stating that more people participated in the demonstration than those who voted at the polling stations distributed throughout the Guadalajara metropolitan area.
She also explained what she believes needs to be reformed in the Mexican judicial system to truly deliver justice to citizens.
“The prosecutor’s offices should be reformed first, because they are the ones in charge of criminal offenses and that’s where most people are dissatisfied. I also believe that efforts should be made to expand institutions like the one I work for, the Federal Public Defender’s Institute, where we are pro bono lawyers who provide services to citizens who cannot afford a private attorney. I have to tell you that here in Jalisco, there are only 12 advisors for the entire state,” the protester said.
The demonstration began its march from Plaza Reforma, in front of the Casa de los Perros (House of Dogs), on Fray Antonio Alcalde Avenue, until it reached Plaza de Armas in front of the Government Palace.
Source: milenio
