The National Autonomous University of Mexico. Photo: Flickr

By KELIN DILLON

Following pushback from Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador (AMLO), the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM) released a statement distancing itself from the analysis its Institute of Legal Research (IIJ) prepared on AMLO’s controversial ‘Plan C’ reforms to the Mexican Constitution.

Compiled by more than 40 legal experts, the IIJ’s technical analysis “warned of the problems that the proposals made by the federal executive have and how they can generate disruptions in the government’s operation,” according to the report coordinator and Doctor of Law Sergio López Ayllón.

The dozens of specialists particularly highlighted concerns around the judicial reform that proposes the public election of Mexico’s judges, which the experts say would subject the judiciary to politicization, disrupt its autonomy and impact the nation’s balance of powers.

López Obrador publicly criticized the department’s analysis during his daily morning press conference on Monday, June 17, calling the content “predictable” before going on to discredit the legitimacy of UNAM as a whole.

“The directors at UNAM, all very conservative, UNAM went to the right,” said AMLO at the time.  “I can say all this because I have 100 days left in office. But it is true, that the right took over the schools, research institutes, and everything. There are exceptions, of course, but it is very clear.”

After the federal executive’s words, UNAM took to its social media accounts on Monday afternoon to separate itself from the IIJ’s report.

“The document on the 20 reform initiatives presented by the President, prepared by academics from the IIJ among other people, and widely circulated on social networks last weekend, in no way represents the position of the UNAM nor the feelings of his community,” said the UNAM statement. “In any case, the texts exclusively reflect the opinion of the authors. UNAM will convene various academic forums where an open and plural discussion can take place.”

Meanwhile, Ayllón told daily Mexican newspaper El Universal that “those of us who participate in this collective work exercise our rights and academic freedom, I am sure that the president’s comment will inhibit none of the people who participated.”