President Peña Nieto Hails the transformation of Mexico's Justice System

Office of the Mexican Presidency

• It is a change of model and paradigm in order for there to be faster, swifter, more expeditious and transparent justice, which is open, oral, and available to the population, he explained.

• He hailed the efforts made in this field in the state of Chihuahua, which is now in the process of opening the oral system to other areas such as the civil, commercial and labor sectors.

• The government is attentive and willing and politically committed to closing ranks with the municipal governments that are determined to do their own work, he said.

• What is unacceptable for the municipal level is to avoid the task by claiming not to have sufficient resources or capabilities, and sometimes simply standing by and letting others do their work.

Last week, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto stressed the importance of the transformation of the country’s justice system, an effort that involves a change of model and paradigm of enormous scope, “Because it means achieving a faster, swifter, more expeditious and transparent system of justice; one that is open, oral and available to society, and which can be public.”

At the event, in which he led the closing ceremony of the Annual Conference of Municipalities of Mexico (CONAMM), and delivered the Justice Center and the Oral Trial Halls in the State of Chihuahua, the president declared that the government has invested significant funds in supporting state governments in order to achieve an oral and adversarial system of criminal justice, “For them to appropriate and expedite the process of implementing this system of criminal justice.”

He praised the efforts made in this field in the state of Chihuahua, which has taken the lead as one of the first states to promote this model of oral and open justice. “But now, it not only has it in place for criminal proceedings, as though justice ended there or one could only talk about justice in that sphere, it is now in the process of opening it up to other jurisdictions, in the civil, commercial and labor spheres, so that oral justice, which is faster, more transparent and open, will enable society to have the certainty and, above all, confidence in the justice institutions it is demanding.

President Peña Nieto stressed the importance of the efforts being made in the country regarding preparation, training and professionalization of the various players, in order to achieve, “This momentous step we are about to take in changing our criminal justice system.” He said that efforts must also be made to boost, “Others in what we call everyday justice, that will enable us to fulfill the clear goal of achieving justice and for society to have confidence in institutions, both those involving enforcement and the administration of justice.”

He explained that the government has embraced these challenges, “And coped with them by devoting efforts and resources to them, and making the various departments converge in this regard.”

“We have also coped with the challenges involved in dealing with the resistance in different areas, but as president I am sure that this effort to achieve transformation will affect and benefit all branches of government,” he said.

EPN urges mayors to work and provide results

The president told the country’s mayors and state authorities: “You have a permanent ally in the government, and this is not just rhetoric, we have proved this through actions. We are a government that has driven changes and transformations, because we believe in the future of Mexico and the potential we have as a nation.”

He said that the party to which each level of government belongs is unimportant to the government, because for those in authority, “There is only one task, to govern for everyone.” This is how we understand it, he continued, “With this clarity, with this basic guiding principle of all the constituted authorities, which is to serve and work for all.”

“The government is attentive and willing and politically committed to closing ranks with municipal governments that are determined to do their own work,” he explained.

What is not alright, what is not acceptable for the municipal level, he added, “Is to avoid the task on the pretext of not having enough resources, not having sufficient capacity, and sometimes just standing by and letting others do the work.”

President Peña Nieto told the mayors: “Rather than waiting for changes or reforms that will enable municipalities to be better able to assume their own responsibility, let us assume it now in the framework we have today. We cannot avoid responsibility; we must work and deliver results.”

He urged them to, “Set goals and on the basis of what you have pledged to your citizens, the majority of whom have given you their support, which has made you constituted authorities; devote your commitment and effort to meeting those objectives.”

“Along the way, you will undoubtedly encounter criticism, diatribes and detractors, but stay true to the fulfillment of the objectives and commitments you have assumed to citizens who have given you their vote of confidence. Do not be distracted, because the most important thing, the most important legacy you can provide, and that is the same ethos that prevails in the government, is to fulfil what has been promised; drive changes and transformations for the good of Mexico and its municipalities,” the president declared.

He exhorted them to persevere in their efforts, “Because sometimes it can be tempting to navigate through compromising spheres and earn easy praise. But the real transformations, the profound changes that will enable municipalities, states and countries to have better conditions, imply coping with the enormous resistance that opposes major changes.”

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Presidency of the Republic, Oct. 30, 2015, Mexico, DF; translation by Presidency of the Republic