In a statement, in addition to holding a clean electoral process, the State Department calls for respect for the separation of fundamental powers and rights such as freedom of expression.
In a brief statement, the U.S. government through its State Department sent a congratulation to the Salvadorans for having developed on Sunday, February 28, a peaceful, orderly electoral process, and which, except for some altercations, remained without great shocks.
The State Department, equivalent to a Chancellery, took advantage of this message to emphasize the emphasis the Joe Biden administration is placing on strengthening Salvadoran democracy.
“The country’s social, economic and political stability requires the strengthening of El Salvador’s democratic institutions,” the US government said in a statement.
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On this, he adds that all political leaders in the country must commit themselves to “eliminating corruption, respecting the separation of powers, increasing transparency, and respecting human rights, including freedom of expression.”
On election day, the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES) recorded 58 assaults on communicators and violations of press freedom in the context of election coverage. Of these, four were high-ranking assaults, meaning they constituted physical violation, including an incident in which a member of the Presidential Battalion assaulted the newspaper’s photojournalist, Jessica Orellana.
Freedom of the press has weakened as far as the Bukele administration is concerned and on election day itself, there were multiple assaults on this fundamental right.
The U.S. government also called for defending the rule of law and the balance of power. Both have faltered during the current presidency, which has made numerous actors disrespectful of the country’s constitutional and democratic order, such as the 9F, challenges to judicial failures, disobedience to the Legislature and attempts to bypass institutions that they demand accountability.
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This democratic concern has increased now that it is known that New Ideas, the pro-government party, has obtained a qualified majority which will allow the presidency to process laws, loans, appointments of officials and even dismissals without any opposition filter.
Congratulations on the election
In its statement, the State Department stated that “the United States congratulates the people of El Salvador for holding successful legislative, municipal, and Central American parliamentary elections.”
The day came without further ado and international observers agree that it was a fair, free and transparent election. In addition, it had a high turnout.
“We applaud the widespread participation of Salvadorans in the elections despite the many challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic,” the US government said.
They also called for the unity of Salvadorans to promote a “safe and prosperous country where all citizens can grow.”
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