Mexico's political landscape has witnessed a significant shift with the Senate's appointment of a new attorney general, a role central to the nation's legal and judicial framework.
Senate Confirms Presidential Ally to Top Legal Post
On Wednesday, 3rd December 2025, the Mexican Senate formally selected Ernestina Godoy to serve as the country's next attorney general. Godoy is a longstanding legal confidante of President Claudia Sheinbaum, having served as her adviser since Sheinbaum assumed the presidency in October 2024.
The appointment follows the resignation of the previous post-holder, Alejandro Gertz Manero, who stepped down the preceding Friday. Godoy had been acting in the role on an interim basis in the days between Gertz Manero's departure and her official confirmation.
A History of Close Professional Ties
The professional relationship between the new attorney general and the president is well-established and extends back several years. Prior to her national advisory role, Ernestina Godoy served as the prosecutor for Mexico City during the period when Claudia Sheinbaum was the mayor of the capital.
President Sheinbaum revealed earlier on Wednesday that her shortlist of candidates for the powerful position consisted entirely of women. The selection process was facilitated by the control her Morena party holds over the Senate, ensuring a smooth confirmation vote.
Continuity and Scrutiny in Mexico's Legal Leadership
The outgoing attorney general, the 86-year-old Alejandro Gertz Manero, resigned to take up an ambassadorial position, although the administration has not yet disclosed the destination country. Gertz Manero, who preferred a low public profile, had held various public security roles since the 1970s.
His tenure, which began in January 2019, was notable as he was ostensibly the first attorney general designed to be fully independent from political influence. However, his time in office was frequently characterised by his close association with the then-president who nominated him, Andrés Manuel López Obrador. This proximity drew sustained criticism from civil society organisations throughout his term.
The appointment of Godoy signals a continuation of close alignment between the presidency and the attorney general's office, a dynamic that will likely be watched closely by both supporters and critics of the current administration.
