El Salvador enters a political crisis under the critical eye of the United States

El Salvador is entering a political crisis due to the existence of two Constitutional chambers in the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) after Congress voted to replace several magistrates, in a measure strongly criticized by Washington and indicated as “Coup” by social organizations.

The Legislative Assembly, which took office on Saturday with a large pro-government majority, voted to dismiss the five proprietary magistrates and their alternates, but the same chamber declared the legislative measure unconstitutional, promoted by the ruling party and supported by President Nayib Bukele.

The possible legal entanglement of the two conflicting positions has yet to be seen in the country.

Antony Blinken spoke with Bukele and expressed his “deep concern” over the decision of the Legislative Assembly to remove the judges and the attorney general, Raúl Melara, from their positions.

The Bukele Executive and the Legislative Assembly recognize five lawyers who were voted and sworn in as new constitutional magistrates, but the Constitutional Chamber indicated in the ruling that these decisions violate the republican form of government indicated in the Magna Carta.

The Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, spoke with Bukele and expressed his “deep concern” about the decision of the Legislative Assembly to remove the judges and the attorney general, Raúl Melara, from their positions. Blinken noted that “an independent judiciary is essential for democratic governance.”

He also defended that Melara is “fighting corruption and impunity” and “is an effective partner” to fight crime “both in the United States and in El Salvador,” according to a statement.

Blinken highlighted “the commitment of the United States to improve conditions in El Salvador” by strengthening democratic institutions, separating powers and defending a free press.

Relations between El Salvador and the United States are not at their best since real estate mogul Donald Trump left the US Executive.

In fact, the president did not receive Biden’s special envoy to the Northern Triangle of Central America, Ricardo Zúñiga, in a visit he made in early April and in which he asked to meet with the Salvadoran head of state.

The Salvadoran president said on Saturday on his social networks to the international community that he is “cleaning the house” and that “that is none of his business.”

The Salvadoran president said on Saturday on his social networks to the international community that he is “cleaning the house” and that “that is not his concern.”

This Sunday afternoon, without making direct reference to anyone, I send a “message to the people” from the “political leaders” who question the decision of the Legislative Assembly.

“Never support them. If they take them to power, they will go to negotiate with the same regime that now has them in misery. They wish so,” Bukele wrote.

Relations between El Salvador and the United States, in addition to geographic proximity, are marked by economic exchange and the interests of almost three million Salvadorans who live in the North American country and who only in 2020 sent more than 5,000 million in remittances.

Mauricio Méndez, representative of the Exporters Corporation of El Salvador, told Efe that he feared that the Salvadoran political context would affect trade relations between the two countries.

“This type of political instability generates a lot of uncertainty in the export sector” and in investors, he indicated, adding that with this “political movement it would seem that the rules are going to change overnight and that is not good for the economy of the country. country”.

He did not rule out that if trade with the United States falls, China will seek to replace that activity.

More than twenty Salvadoran social organizations and business associations denounced the “usurpation” of the Constitutional Chamber and ignored the lawyers elected by the Legislative Assembly.

More than twenty Salvadoran social organizations and business associations denounced the “usurpation” of the Constitutional Chamber and ignored the lawyers elected by the Legislative Assembly to occupy the positions of magistrates.

According to Zaira Navas, a lawyer for the Cristosal human rights organization, the magistrates to be recognized are the ones that the Legislative Assembly “tried to remove.”

“The dismissal is not legal, it is unconstitutional,” he said, adding that the plenary session of the Supreme Court “should only recognize constitutionally elected magistrates.”

Salvadoran legislation establishes that conflicts between the Government and Congress must be resolved by the Constitutional Chamber, but given the current situation, the path is not clear.

One of the options given by the lawyers of the organizations is that the plenary session of the Supreme Court does not recognize the five lawyers appointed by the Assembly on Saturday night.

At least 200 people, mostly young people and women, protested this Sunday in San Salvador against Congress and President Bukele

However, they affirm that there will be no duplication of constitutional chambers, according to what José Marinero, president of the Democracy, Transparency, Justice (TPJ) foundation told Efe.

At least 200 people, mostly young people and women, protested this Sunday in San Salvador against Congress and President Bukele.

These people, including students, feminists and people from the LGTBI community, concentrated on the monument to the Constitution to question the way in which the dismissals were carried out and accuse the president of being “authoritarian”.

“What we are fighting for is not for any magistrate or prosecutor. We are fighting for a division of powers ”, because there can be a“ concentration of power and arbitrary decision-making, ”one of the protesters told the press, who asked not to be identified for his safety.