Mexico's outgoing president Andrés Manuel López Obrador did not elaborate on what a "pause" would entail when he announced his move at a press conference on Tuesday.
The plan to change the judicial system, recently proposed by López Obrador, has been met with widespread criticism and large demonstrations.
The Proposal: Elect Judges
Among the changes the president is seeking is to have judges elected in votes.
This would mean a shift from the current system where appointments are largely based on specialized education and qualifications, to a system where almost anyone with a law degree and a few years of experience can run for election to become a judge. Many academics are worried that this would lead to more politically biased judges in the country.
Last week, US Ambassador Ken Salazar called the proposal a "risk" to democracy, which could jeopardize Mexico's trade relations with the US. López Obrador said the comment infringed on Mexico's sovereignty.
"Pause"
The president now claims that he believed the comment came from the US State Department.
I hope they promise to respect Mexico's independence and our country's sovereignty. Until then, we have a pause, he says.
He also accuses Canada, which has also expressed concern over the proposal, of interfering in Mexico's internal affairs.
López Obrador will step down as president on October 1 and hand over to his political ally, election winner Claudia Sheinbaum.
