Mexico's amnesty, legal protection reforms become law

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum attend an event with relatives of the more than 60 miners who lost their lives in the Pasta de Conchos coal mine tragedy in February 2006, in Nueva Rosita, Mexico June 14, 2024. REUTERS/Daniel Becerril

MEXICO CITY (Reuters) -Mexico enacted two controversial laws on Friday that increase the president's ability to grant amnesty and limit judges' ability to suspend public projects.

The legal amendments, approved by Congress earlier this year and taking effect on Saturday, allow the president to directly grant amnesty without going through established procedures, as long as the person receiving it has an ongoing criminal case or has been prosecuted or sentenced.