Lenia Batres, current minister and candidate to preside over the Supreme Court, allegedly used public resources to travel across the country and promote her image during the electoral process.
The tours included forums and academic events, but they were also used to boost her personal projection. This campaign is taking place in a clearly electoral context ahead of the June 1 election.
According to official reports, Batres made at least 15 trips between late 2023 and the first months of 2024, funded by the Judicial Branch. More than 210,000 pesos (463 pounds) were reportedly allocated for airline tickets.
Diversion of funds under academic pretexts
Another 98,000 pesos (216 pounds) were charged by her advisor Eduardo Murillo. To this, an additional 160,000 pesos (353 pounds) were added between July and August 2024, also charged to the public budget.
The majority of these trips were justified as academic activities, but all took place before March 30, prior to the official start of the campaigns. This has caused suspicions of improper use of resources for political and personal purposes.
"I didn't come to be repudiated," Lenia Batres said during her visit to Querétaro.
No judicial experience but with political backing
Beyond the discretionary use of public funds, the nomination of Lenia Batres to preside over the SCJN has sparked a widespread controversy. The minister lacks relevant judicial experience and hasn't served as a judge or issued significant legal opinions.
Her presence in the highest court is not due to professional merit, but rather to her closeness to former president López Obrador. He was the one who imposed her with the support of his legislative majority, compromising the independence of the Judicial Branch.
For many, this aspiration represents another attempt by the federal government to control autonomous institutions.
Privileges and scandals amid social discontent
The scandal grew when Batres was seen traveling first class from Oaxaca on May 11. Although she stated that she paid for the ticket with her own money, public outrage persists.
This is not only about reimbursing expenses, but about acting with ethics, transparency, and respect for public resources. Meanwhile, millions of Mexicans face precarious conditions, the use of public funds for personal purposes is unacceptable in an official who seeks to lead the defense of legality in the country.
