Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, said the Salvadoran president has “crossed the line” when it comes to democracy, so appointing a strong ambassador is in the best interest of his country.
In a hearing of Secretary of State Antony Blinken before the Foreign Affairs Committee of the House of Representatives, one of the congressmen present referred to El Salvador very clearly.
Adam Kinzinger, an Illinois Republican, called on the Secretary of State (equivalent to a foreign minister) to “appoint a strong ambassador” to El Salvador. In the legislature’s view, this is “important to U.S. priorities.”
I WILL SEE: EE. UU. He warns that not a $ 4 billion in aid to Central America will go to its presidents
Since Ronald Johnson left on January 20, the United States has not filled this vacancy with an ambassador. The position has been taken over by former Consul Brendan O’Brien in his capacity as Business Manager.
During his stay, Johnson remained silent in the face of abuses by President Nayib Bukele, in line with the politics of the Trump administration, friendly with Bukele despite the threats he has posed to democracy.
At the hearing, the congressman added that “there are challenges within this country (El Salvador) for a leader who has crossed the line on democratic issues.”
By this, Kinzinger seems to be referring to the abuses of power by Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele. In his government, the rule of law, transparency and fundamental freedoms such as the press or expression have been weakened.
In fact, a few days after the military capture of the Legislative Assembly commanded by Bukele, this same congressman called for a peaceful settlement of the clashes between state bodies in El Salvador.
This is not the first message from the U.S. Congress to El Salvador or to prevent Bukele abuses. Throughout 2020, after abuses of power and blows to democracy, numerous letters signed by lawmakers arrived in the country.
SEE: Congressman Jim McGovern: “I worry and disappoint” the authoritarian path El Salvador is following
For the most part, they came from Democrats who rejected the transactional way the Donald Trump administration treated El Salvador: full political support in exchange for submission to its migration policies.
However, a group of influential Republicans, including one of former President Donald Trump’s referents for hemispheric affairs, the Cuban-American Mario Diaz-Balart, also demanded an end to abuses of power and limitations on journalism.
And with a new Democratic administration, with Joe Biden at the helm, Kinzinger joins Republicans in demanding that the American country rule more firmly on the coups on democracy in El Salvador.
These blows, along with corruption and lack of opportunities, play a role in motivating thousands of people each year to leave the country irregularly and seek to emigrate to the United States. This is the diagnosis of the Biden administration, which has already announced that its priority for the region remains irregular migration, but unlike the previous government it will not only focus on detaining migrants, but on addressing the causes. which generate mass exodus.
TOO: Nayib Bukele says goodbye to “his friend” Ronald Johnson