Increasing litigation: the AMLO government faces a crisis with companies and the judiciary.

The administration of President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been marked by a notable increase in litigation, with over 21,000 lawsuits handled by the Legal Counsel of the Federal Executive in the last six years. This phenomenon of litigation has manifested in a series of conflicts involving large companies, former officials, and changes in public policies that have generated social discontent. Among the most relevant actors in this framework of legal disputes are Grupo México, Vulcan Materials, and Altos Hornos de México. These companies have been at the center of controversies due to their operations and the impact they have had on the environment and local communities. For example, the construction of the Maya Train has faced strong opposition from farmers and citizens who have filed legal protections against the works, claiming damage to their lands and ecosystems. The conflict with Grupo México reached a critical point on May 19, 2023, when the Ministry of the Navy occupied the Ferrosur facilities in the southeast of the country, in a move interpreted as a response to tensions over the use of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec railway. This act was part of a broader agreement that included the transfer of 120 kilometers of railway to the state, in exchange for an extension of the concession and a payment that was far from the compensation the company had requested. In an even more concerning turn, the federal government announced in October 2023 the filing of a criminal complaint against Grupo México for its responsibility in an acidic copper sulfate spill in the Sonora River, an event that has been classified as one of the largest ecological disasters in recent Mexican history. The repercussions of this disaster remain a hot topic, with ongoing lawsuits and the establishment of a working group with the company to address the damages caused. On the other hand, Vulcan Materials has faced its own series of conflicts. Since 2018, it has filed arbitration claims against the Mexican government for the suspension of its operations in Playa del Carmen due to environmental concerns. Tensions escalated when the government emphasized that it was not expropriating but rather closing operations that posed risks to the environment, although international pressure could complicate the situation further. Altos Hornos de México has also been part of this litigation web. Its president, Alonso Ancira, faced multiple accusations related to irregularities in the purchase of fertilizer plants from Pemex, culminating in a series of lawsuits that reflect the complexity of the relationships between the government and companies. In addition to the controversies with large corporations, López Obrador's government has had to deal with growing discontent in the judicial sector. In 2023, hundreds of legal protections related to the extinction of trusts of the Judiciary were recorded, generating an atmosphere of uncertainty and resistance among workers in the sector. Changes to the National Electoral Institute (INE) have also been the subject of criticism and litigation. Thousands of citizens have filed legal protections against changes in the organizational structure of the INE, reflecting concerns about transparency and impartiality in electoral processes. This climate of distrust has led to protests and an increasingly loud call for respect for democratic rights. In this context, figures such as Rosario Robles and Emilio Lozoya have maintained a high profile in the media, not only due to their legal implications but also because of the symbolism they represent in the fight against corruption. Robles, after having been imprisoned, was finally acquitted, while Lozoya has been a reference point in the allegations of corruption at Pemex, with his own series of ongoing accusations. Debtors of the tax authorities also form part of this narrative, highlighting tensions between the government and the business sector. The publication of a list of companies with open lawsuits has elicited mixed reactions, reflecting the administration's commitment to tax collection but also the discontent it can generate in an already fragile economic environment. The current litigation landscape in Mexico suggests that López Obrador's administration will continue to face significant challenges in its quest to implement structural changes and combat corruption while dealing with the repercussions of its decisions in the legal and social spheres. The intersection of politics, economics, and law remains a complex and volatile terrain, where today's decisions will shape the country's path in the near future.