Protesters invaded the Senate of of Mexicoforcing senators to suspend debate on outgoing President Andrés Manuel López Obrador’s controversial constitutional reform proposals, including a proposal to elect judges by ballot, even in alternative seats.

Senate President Gerardo Fernandez Norona declared an “indefinite suspension” because protesters had entered the building, as television images showed a crowd of protesters inside the upper chamber shouting “traitors”.

At the same time, he asked the members of the senate to remain calm.

The entry of the protesters has added to an already polarized climate that has drawn backlash both at home and abroad with critics fearing it could undermine the country’s rule of law.

Mexico’s major trading partners, the United States and Canada, have warned that the changes could undermine the three countries’ trade pact, the USMCA, and hurt investment.

The core of the constitutional reform, proposed by outgoing President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, calls for the popular election of more than 6,500 judges, including the Supreme Court.

López Obrador and President-elect Claudia Sheinbaum have strongly defended the reform as necessary to hold judges accountable and reduce corruption.

Her critics have characterized her as an overt doubling down on the power of the ruling Morena party.

As senators debated the reform, the opposition accused the ruling bloc of underhand tactics in order to secure the necessary two-thirds majority.

The reform also proposes reducing the number of the court’s chief justices to nine from 11, reducing their term of office to 12 years and reducing the required work experience from 10 to five years.