Mexican Senate urged to fill Electoral Tribunal vacancies

Legal experts from the Citizen Observatory, part of the Center for Studies for a National Alternative Project (CEPNA), have demanded that the Mexican Senate fulfill its constitutional obligation to fill two vacancies in the Superior Chamber of the Electoral Tribunal of the Federal Judiciary (TEPJF).

The vacancies were created following the conclusion of Janine Otálora Malassis’s term and the recent resignation of Mónica Aralí Soto Fregoso. Experts argue that the Senate cannot postpone these appointments until the 2028 judicial elections, noting that Articles 98 and 99 of the Constitution require the Superior Chamber to function with seven magistrates to ensure its role as a court of last resort.

The group warned that failing to address these vacancies risks violating due process and access to independent justice. They stated that such an omission could expose the Mexican state to international responsibility under Inter-American standards, especially given the proximity of the 2026-2027 federal electoral process.