Calderón Compares Mexico to Venezuela, Attacks Judicial Reform at Madrid Forum

Speaking at the European People's Party's Libertas Forum in Madrid, former President Felipe Calderón said Mexico is heading 'down the same path' as Venezuela, where populism 'destroyed the economy, destroyed the Judicial Power, and took over elections.' He sharply criticized Mexico's judicial reform — which introduced popular election of judges and magistrates — saying it let 'lawyers loyal to the Government, including lawyers for drug traffickers' onto candidate lists, and warned citizens would 'never win a lawsuit against the Government' under the new system. The remarks extended Calderón's public re-engagement in Mexican politics following his late-May defense of the drug war and the July accusations from Sheinbaum and Morena leadership tying his administration to the Sinaloa Cartel.