El Salvador’s ruling Nuevas Ideas (NI) party officially presented Nayib Bukele as their candidate for the upcoming 2024 elections, despite various constitutional prohibitions that would disqualify Bukele’s candidacy, reports Reuters. The country’s NI-appointed Supreme Court ruled in 2021 that Bukele would be able to seek a second term, disregarding the Constitution’s explicit prohibition of two consecutive terms. The ongoing “war on gangs” has seen Bukele’s popularity skyrocket to over 90%, while over 66,000 people have been imprisoned. Concerns have been raised about a lack of due process, human rights abuses in prisons, and eroding democratic standards.
El Faro’s Editorial Board published an opinion piece outlining how “the regime has already eliminated every counterweight” that could pose any legal obstacles for Bukele’s reelection. “From the start, Bukele and his circle plotted to put an end to our democracy,” they wrote.
Regional Relations
The presidents of Brazil and Colombia met over the weekend “to lay groundwork for the Amazon Summit the Brazilian government is organizing in Belem next month. That summit will be attended by leaders of the countries party to the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, made up of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.” (AP)
Honduras
Expressing concerns about human rights violations, “the UN human rights office (OHCHR) has urged authorities in Honduras to reinforce the “internal and external oversight of military operations” in the country, following the extending of a national state of emergency.” (UN)
Following promises on the campaign trail in 2021 from president Xiomara Castro to bring back an anti-corruption commission to the country after the Commission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (MACCIH) was dismantled by her predecessor, UN experts arrived in Honduras this past weekend to discuss establishing the International Commission Against Corruption and Impunity in Honduras (CICIH), reports Reuters.
“The Honduran government on Friday told Chinese officials it is seeking investors to help fund construction of a proposed $20 billion rail line connecting the country's Atlantic and Pacific coasts, part of a binational trade and investment push,” reports Reuters, noting that the two countries are negotiating a potential free trade agreement.
Argentina
The first stage of the Nestor Kirchner pipeline was inaugurated yesterday, reports Reuters. The pipeline, which runs from Neuquen province to Buenos Aires province, is expected to boost Argentina’s energy production and sales, allowing the country to aim to reach net zero in its energy balance in 2024 and achieve a surplus in 2025.
Argentina’s Mercado Pago app, similar to Venmo in the US, provides a solution - albeit imperfect - to combat the country’s skyrocketing inflation by investing the money users store in the digital wallet, explains Rest of World.
“It is possible that Massa’s candidacy - which represents a marked ideological difference from traditional Kirchnerite candidates - could benefit Cristina Fernández de Kirchner (CFK) in the long run, ‘pinning the responsibility of defeat on a non-Kirchnerite leader of the pan-Peronist front while allowing her and son Máximo to say their candidate is Juan Grabois, the young leader of the social movements who espouses a leftist ideology that is much closer to their heart,’” explains Arianna at her weekly Argentina newsletter, Road to the Casa Rosada.
Brazil
The Guardian reports that although 90% of illegal miners in Yanomami, Brazil’s largest Indigenous territory, have been removed from the land, their activities have only been displaced, not halted.
Chile
Fortune notes how Latin America is turning towards China to help achieve its renewable energy goals, while also attempting to establish future energy independence.
Venezuela
After 7 months, the “Fund for the Social Protection of the People of Venezuela” has yet to be implemented, notes Transparency Venezuela in a letter signed by over 130 civil society organizations calling for the fund’s implementation.
“Venezuela's opposition is crafting a proposal for the country to redirect about 200,000 barrels per day of its oil exports to a trustee to pay creditors with claims on the nation's foreign assets,” reports Reuters.
Migration
“Colombia’s National Administrative Department of Statistics (DANE) has published the 5th round of the migration pulse survey. Among the findings, 82% of Venezuelans in Colombia reported planning to stay in the country, 27% reported feeling discriminated against, and 15% of Venezuelan families with children reported that they did not attend school, notes La República,” explains Jordi at his weekly migration newsletter, the Americas Migration Brief.
“The Caribbean Community (Caricom) has “agreed to having free movement for all categories of people by March next year” within the bloc, although Haiti will not be included, reports Loop, adding that “there would be ‘certain contingent rights’ such as access to primary and emergency healthcare and free primary and secondary education,” too.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
Chile presented last week a new national policy on migration (PNME) primarily focused on “internal management through the National Migration Service (SERMIG) and border control,” including expanding the causes for expulsion. The press release adds, “There will be no massive regularization processes like those that were carried out in the past. Conditioned and specific modalities for regularization will be defined. The guideline for granting residencies will be that they are associated with contracts or job offers in branches that are difficult to cover, or where there is a shortage of workers, according to territorial capacities, or due to family ties.” (via Americas Migration Brief)
Peru
Peru’s Barbadillo prison, a special penitentiary for the country’s former presidents, is full, according to NPR.
Mexico
A missing Mexican journalist’s body was found in Nayarit on Saturday with indications that he died violently. (Reuters)
Financial Times outlines the business debate between Mexico and the US concerning the USMCA trade agreement, citing Mexican opposition lawmaker who said, “There has been a decision in both the US and Mexican governments to try to manage all the tensions until after the two elections.”
The decrease in migrants waiting in shelters at the US-Mexico border is likely a temporary statistic, as migrants mainly from Haiti, Venezuela, and Central America continue to try and head north, says the New York Times.
“Mexico’s armed forces are taking control of the capital’s main airport, and the government plans to give the military control of nearly a dozen more across the country,” reports AP, adding, “President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has been setting the armed forces to a wide range of nontraditional tasks since he was elected in 2018, creating concerns about the separation of the military from civilian life.”
Guatemala
Comparing Guatemala’s current political situation to the repression seen in Nicaragua, USA Today notes that if Bernardo Arevalo’s surprising election results that propelled him to a runoff election are upheld, it is possible that migration trends towards the US will decrease. However, if it is determined that Arevalo is not permitted to participate in the second round, migration is likely to continue to increase.