
Bukele’s “New El Salvador”: Militarizing Education, Minors Tried as Adults, and Extended Prison Terms — El “nuevo El Salvador” de Bukele: militarizar la educación, menores juzgados como adultos y más años de prisión
Minister of Education appointed: Army captain Karla Trigueros, who “has demonstrated the capacity, leadership, and commitment to drive a transformation in our educational system” — Elige ministra de Educación a la capitana Karla Trigueros, que “ha demostrado la capacidad, el liderazgo y el compromiso para impulsar una transformación en nuestro sistema educativo”
Highlights
“Mothers Have Handed Over Their Children to Us”: Private Speech by Bukele — “Hay madres que nos han entregado a sus hijos”: discurso privado de Bukele
On the night of June 1, 2024, Nayib Bukele hosted a gala dinner at the Presidential House to celebrate the start of his second term. El Faro obtained an almost 11-minute recording of the private speech Bukele gave to attendees: his brothers, advisors, cabinet members, lawmakers, influencers, and other guests such as Donald Trump Jr. Bukele defended the legality of his second term despite the constitutional prohibition, hinted that “an economy cannot be improved by decree,” and dedicated several phrases to justify his state of exception, which has lasted over two years and resulted in hundreds of deaths in prisons, even to the point of claiming that some mothers hand over their children to the authorities. — La noche del 1 de junio de 2024, Nayib Bukele ofreció una cena de gala en Casa Presidencial para celebrar el inicio de su segundo mandato. El Faro obtuvo una grabación de casi 11 minutos del discurso privado que Bukele dio a los asistentes: sus hermanos, asesores, miembros de su gabinete, diputados, influencers y otros invitados como Donald Trump Jr. Bukele defendió la legalidad de su segundo mandato pese a la prohibición constitucional, adelantó que ‘una economía no se puede subir por decreto’ y dedicó varias frases a justificar su régimen de excepción, que ya lleva más de dos años y cientos de muertos en cárceles, hasta el punto de asegurar que hay madres que entregan a sus hijos a las autoridades.
Fiscal Adjustment Negotiated with IMF to Impact Population — Ajuste fiscal que negocia FMI con el gobierno impactará en la población
Economists warn that the reduction in spending demanded by the organization will lead to massive layoffs in the public sector, as well as cuts in subsidies and even tax hikes. — Economistas advierten que la reducción de gastos que pide el organismo implicará despidos masivos en el sector público, así como en subsidios e incluso subir impuestos.
Latest News
New law threatens to jail and fine organizers and participants of protest marches — Organizadores y asistentes de marchas podrían ir a prisión por decreto legislativo
Opposition lawmakers and analysts sustain that the government is trying to criminalize social and political protest and to impose a de facto state of exception in El Salvador./ Legisladores de la oposición y analistas sostienen que el gobierno está tratando de criminalizar la protesta social y política e imponer un estado de excepción de facto en El Salvador.
Government presents expropriation law bill — Gobierno presenta ley de expropiación de bienes
The bill was presented to Congress and will be studied by the Commission of Legislation and Constitutional Points. — El proyecto de ley fue presentado al Congreso y será estudiado por la Comisión de Legislación y Puntos Constitucionales.
Purge in the Attorney General office — Depuración en la Fiscalía General
The Salvadoran Attorney General is using the same mechanism of forced retirement already implemented in the court system to make political “house cleaning”. — El Fiscal General salvadoreño está utilizando el mismo mecanismo de retiro forzoso ya implementado en el sistema judicial para hacer “limpieza de casa”.
Aldermen of Bukele’s party rebel against their own mayor — Concejales de NI de Apopa se rebelan contra su propio alcalde
First open rebellion inside of Nuevas Ideas. — Primera rebelión en las filas de Nuevas Ideas.
Deputy Human Rights Ombudsman does not meet the requirements for the position — Procurador adjunto no cumple con requisitos para el cargo
Jeannette Aguilar, a security analyst, pointed out that Ricardo Salvador Martínez, who since October 1 has been the new deputy human rights ombudsman, is incompatible with the position. — Jeannette Aguilar, analista de seguridad, señaló que Ricardo Salvador Martínez, quien desde el pasado 1 de octubre es el nuevo procurador adjunto de derechos humanos, es incompatible con el cargo.
Supreme Electoral Tribunal magistrate says he could be removed from office for criticizing the government — Magistrado del Tribunal Supremo Electoral dice que podría ser destituido de su cargo en el TSE por criticar al gobierno
The member of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal of El Salvador Julio Olivo denounced plan to remove him for his critics of the government and its plans to implement the re-election of president Bukele. — El magistrado del Tribunal Supremo Electoral Julio Olivo denunció planes de destituirlo por ser crítico del gobierno y de la reelección presidencial.
Rising incidents of abuses and threats against the press in El Salvador
The Inter-American Press Association IAPA pointed out an increase in abuses against the independent press in El Salvador under the Bukele administration
Charge d’Affaires of the United States responds to Salvadoran official who wants to sue the State Department for his inclusion in the Engel List
The United States Charge d’Affaires in El Salvador, Jean Manes, commented the lawsuit the Salvadoran Secretary of Labour, Rolando Castro, is preparing against the State Department for his inclusion in the list of corrupt and undemocratic actors (Engel List).
Rolando Castro, secretary of Labor and one of the Salvadoran officials included in the Engel List, accused Jean Manes, charge d’affairs at the US embassy, of undue interference in El Salvador and demanded her removal.
n an extensive thread in Twitter, Salvadoran secretary of Labor Rolando Castro launched serious accusations against Jean Manes, the charge d’affairs at the US embassy in El Salvador. Mr. Castro is one of several officials affiliated with president Bukele included in the Engel List of corrupt and anti-democratic political and economic leaders in Central America.
Ruben Zamora: “The country lives the most serious regression since the 1992 Peace Accords”
“This kind of government tries to concentrate all the state’s power under its control. This means a rupture of the democratic system.”
Thousands marching against governments abuses in El Salvador
The march was joined by huge contingents of veterans of the Salvadoran civil war, both from the army and the guerrilla forces, demanding compliance with the promises of pensions
“We have nothing to hide”: Public statement of the Jesuit University
The university states that “the accusation made against the UCA to have illegally received subsidies are unwarranted and are part of a government campaign to discredit the university for its critical positions.
Wide repercussion in El Salvador of Ricardo Zúñiga meeting leaders of the Salvadoran community/ Amplio eco en El Salvador causa reunión de la diáspora salvadoreña con Ricardo Zúñiga
Salvadoran newspapers highlight the importance of a meeting the special presidential envoy for Central America celebrated in Washington DC with leaders of the Salvadoran community in the US/ Los periodicos de El Salvador destacaron la reunión que el enviado especial de Biden celebró en Washington con líderes de la diáspora salvadoreña de Estados Unidos
Central America, a region with democratic setback
In Honduras, the current president was re-elected twice, although the country’s constitution expressly prohibits presidential re-election. In Nicaragua, Daniel Ortega is running for his fourth term, after reforming the constitution.
Legislator Rosy Romero questions Investigative Commission
According to the legislator, the commission is used to attack the opposition.
“Democracy is in danger”, says former member of the Constitutional Chamber
Former member of Salvadoran Supreme Court calls on judges to defend the independent judiciary
Salvadoran Secretary of Health proposes to reform the Impunity Act
After purging the judiciary, the Bukele administration accepts to reform the “Alabí impunity act” for government corruption.
Thelma Aldana: “An Attorney General has to be elected under legal procedures, not imposed.”
Former Guatemalan Attorney General Thelma Aldana regrets that El Salvador has dismantled the CICIES and illegaly imposed a new chief prosecutor
New case of nepotism in the Bukele administration
Salvadoran Government’s chief officer for the Department of Attention of Crime Victims and Forced Migration lacks proper qualifications, but is married to a leading legislator for the president’s party.
More money for the military, less for the public university and Human Rights
Bukele Administration reduces budget for human rights institutions, while increasing funds for militarization and publicity.
Millions for lobbying in the US — Millones para cabildeo político en EEUU
Salvadoran government paid 3.2 millions to improve its image after allegations of corruption./ Gobierno ha pagado $3.2 millones por Lobby en Estados Unidos para mejorar la comunicación bilateral después de señalamientos de corrupción.