The Mexican Senate narrowly passed a controversial judicial reform early Wednesday, hours after protesters broke into the chamber in a chaotic scene and forced a suspension of the proceedings.
The Senate vote was the last major hurdle for the sweeping constitutional reform, under which Mexicans would elect judges at all levels of government by a popular vote.
Opposition has swelled in recent weeks to the effort, which has been championed by the outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador. Judicial staff across the country, including from the Supreme Court, have been on strike, shuttering most courthouse activity.
Dramatic footage from the Senate showed protesters bursting through a door to the floor after a chaotic scrum with officials, while others waved the Mexican flag and chanted from a gallery above. Some lawmakers were seen cheering on the demonstrators.
At least one person was injured in the unrest, according to the Senate communications team, and an opposition senator said protesters threw gasoline in his eyes.
López Obrador, a popular leftist, has long been critical of his country’s Supreme Court after it stood in the way of some of his signature policy proposals. He has said the overhaul is necessary to rid Mexico’s judiciary of corruption and ensure it is responsive to popular will.
