On 15 November, approximately 17,000 people participated in anti-government protests initially organized by Gen Z activists to draw attention to drug-related violence and corruption. Dissatisfaction had intensified following the 1 November assassination of Carlos Manzo, mayor of Uruapan in Michoacán, after he urged authorities to take a tougher stance against organized crime. The government alleged that opposition parties and their supporters used bots to amplify calls for the protest, claiming the movement was not organic but opposition-driven. While the demonstrations began peacefully, reports indicated the use of violence by a small group of protesters, including criminals who exploited the unrest to loot businesses, as well as excessive use of force by police. Officials reported around 100 police officers and 20 protesters injured. Human rights organizations documented instances of police violence against journalists and urged authorities to refrain from language that stigmatizes protesters.

Sources: Proceso,  The Guardian, CBC, Al Jazeera, Cuarto Poder

On 12 November, President Claudia Sheinbaum presented an executive plan to combat sexual abuse. The plan, which would require some legislative changes, includes: standardizing the legal definition of sexual abuse as a serious crime; strengthening mechanisms to encourage women to report cases; enhancing training for prosecutors and public officials; and launching public awareness campaigns aimed at driving cultural change. During the announcement, President Sheinbaum referenced her own recent experience, in which a man groped her while she was speaking with citizens on the street—an incident that intensified public outrage over the country’s high rates of sexual and gender-based violence.

Sources: Gobierno de Mexico, El Pais, The Guardian 

In July, a significant legislative package was introduced in Mexico, including the new Federal Telecommunications and Broadcasting Law and a Law on the National Research and Intelligence System for Public Security. The telecommunications law establishes a Digital Transformation and Telecommunications Agency to expand internet access to marginalized communities but has raised privacy concerns. While judicial orders are required to access private communications, real-time geo-location does not require judicial approval. It also mandates the use of biometric ID when obtaining a mobile number, accessing certain services, or engaging in e-commerce. Separately, compulsory biometric identification was introduced through amendments to the General Law on Enforced Disappearances and the General Population Law, meaning that individuals must provide biometric data for official population records and civil registration purposes. Critics argue both measures lack sufficient privacy safeguards. Additionally, the intelligence law allows linking public and private databases, which privacy advocates warn could undermine rights without proper oversight.

Sources: La Jornada, Vanguardia, Diario Oficial de la Federacion, Proceso, El Pais 

Mexico’s first judicial elections took place on 1 June, following constitutional amendments to overhaul the judiciary. Ballots included candidates for most federal judgeships, including all seats on the Supreme Court, Electoral Tribunal and the newly created Judicial Discipline Tribunal. Elections of local judges also took place in 19 of the 32 states, with the remaining states still working to amend their local constitutions to allow for judicial elections.
Voter turnout was approximately 13.0 per cent, and to fulfill constitutional requirements for gender parity, citizens elected five women and four men to the Supreme Court. Other federal judgeships were filled under the same principle. Mexico is the only country to elect all its judges by popular vote.
An OAS electoral observation mission noted difficulties in the preparatory process due to limited time for implementing the judicial reform and noted complaints about 'cheat sheets' promoting specific candidates distributed by some parties and local officials.  

Sources: Instituto Nacional Electoral, Organization of American States, Voz y Voto, International IDEA

On 27 February, 29 cartel leaders and members (most, Mexican nationals), wanted in the United States for crimes such as money laundering, drug trafficking and organized crime were transferred to that country, bypassing the extradition process. According to the Mexican Attorney General (AG) and the federal Security and Citizen Protection Minister, the cartel leaders were ‘sent’ or ‘transferred’, pursuant to Mexico’s National Security Law and article 89 of the Constitution. The officials clarified the cartel leaders had not been extradited, but transferred following a decision of the National Security Council in response to a U.S. request. They defended this procedure, blaming corruption in the judiciary for the delay in resolving extradition requests, given that injunctions and appeals meant that some cases had been ongoing for many years. The decision is atypical, both for the legal basis invoked and Mexico’s long-established demand that any nationals subject to extradition requests are spared the death penalty. Although the AG asserted that capital punishment would not be pursued in the criminal cases, U.S. prosecutors have not given such assurances publicly.  

 Sources: : Gobierno de Mexico, Expansion Politica, El Pais, Reuters, NY Times, El Universal