The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation acquired nine armored Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles for about two million pesos each, but returned them after President Claudia Sheinbaum's intervention. This incident highlights the contradiction between the Fourth Transformation's austerity rhetoric and privileged practices in the Judiciary. The purchase took place amid economic inequality and widespread poverty in Mexico.
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) faced criticism for acquiring nine armored Jeep Grand Cherokee vehicles, costing approximately two million pesos each. Reports indicate that the ministers initially accepted the high-end vehicles, used them, and attempted to justify the purchase, citing security needs. However, amid public scandal and pressure, they returned the vehicles following direct intervention by President Claudia Sheinbaum, who emphasized alignment with the republican austerity principle.
This episode unfolds in a Mexico plagued by social inequality, where millions live day-to-day and inflation impacts basic goods. The SCJN, led by Minister President Hugo Aguilar Ortiz, positions itself as an heir to Juárez's ideals of austerity and separation between power and privilege, yet the purchase of these luxuries contradicts that message. The security argument is valid in a violent country, but it does not justify extravagance when the State must prioritize resources for citizens.
Morena's leader in the Chamber of Deputies, Ricardo Monreal, attributed the incident to the 'one percent' of militants who distort the party's doctrine, acknowledging abuses despite 99 percent compliance. This case undermines the Judiciary's legitimacy, already under scrutiny from reforms and political attacks, and questions whether austerity is applied selectively to elites. The return does not erase the damage to the institutional image, and experts call for reducing bureaucracy and salaries to align actions with official rhetoric.
