Mexico's Supreme Court acts aggressively to defend its constitution

once again, the u.s. is being left in the dust by other countries more intent on serving their citizens than propping up business interests and creating an authoritarian, one-party state...

"They don't know what we're made of," [Supreme Court Justice Sergio Salvador Aguirre Anguiano] said. "We're here to fulfill the duty entrusted to us … without political influence upon us, simply according to our convictions, impartially, without raucous talk, just as is laid out in the constitution."

wow...! what a CONCEPT...!

here's what's been going on...

Key rulings by the court have produced a subtle but important shift in Mexico's political landscape. The court has reined in one of the nation's most powerful business interests and is moving against two rogue governors.

[...]

On Thursday, the court agreed to create a committee to investigate the political violence and disorder in the southern state of Oaxaca, ruled by the almost universally reviled Gov. Ulises Ruiz.

On Monday, it's scheduled to begin considering whether it should form a similar panel to investigate Puebla Gov. Mario Marin, absolved by lower courts of abuse-of-power charges in the case of an investigative journalist arrested in his state.

[...]

On June 7, the court used this power to overturn a law that granted huge concessions to the nation's two largest media conglomerates. The legislation was known here as "the Televisa law" because lawyers for that company helped draft it.

Many here saw the law as a massive giveaway to the companies: Among other things, it would have granted both Televisa and TV Azteca 20-year licenses to the airwaves that were easily renewable.

so, why now...?

Analysts say the court is acting because President Felipe Calderón and a divided Congress have failed to move against entrenched interests and corrupt local leaders. Though most of its members were appointed by Mexico's previous two presidents, and all were confirmed by Congress, public outrage has forced the court to act, analysts say.

"The court is stepping up to the plate to fill a worrisome void," said John Ackerman, a law professor at the National Autonomous University of Mexico. Ackerman said the court's recent actions were unprecedented in Mexican history.

well, i'll be dipped... a country that takes its constitution seriously... what won't they think of next...?

note: keep in mind that Felipe Calderón is the u.s.-supported candidate that, in a highly suspect election last july, won over Andrés Manuel López Obrador, an event that i've posted on extensively (here, here, here, here, here, and here)...

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