Central America
Indigenous leaders in Guatemala announce increased protests
October 18 |
Indigenous leaders of Guatemala gave Tuesday a deadline to the government of President Alejandro Giammattei to seek a solution to the political crisis or they will increase the protests that have been held consecutively for 16 days.
The indigenous mayor of the municipality Los Encuentros, Alberto Tuy, affirmed that the authorities of the native peoples are analyzing the last resources so that in case there is no response they can bring to the capital “the whole nation from which we have support”.
In this sense, he pointed out that neither the Constitutional Court (CC), the Supreme Court of Justice, the Congress of the Republic and the President have given a solution to the demands, especially the dismissal of the Attorney General and head of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP), Consuelo Porras.
“We are giving 48 hours to analyze and raise awareness, but if at this moment there is an answer from the government or any other instance, with pleasure, all roads will be freed”, he affirmed.
Meanwhile, Guatemala’s Minister of the Interior, Napoleón Barrientos, presented his resignation to President Giammattei on Monday after the MP requested the Constitutional Court to dismiss him for not complying with orders to evict participants in the protests.
The protesters accuse Porras and prosecutors Cinthia Monterroso and Rafael Curruchiche, as well as Judge Fredy Orellana, of attempting to modify the results of the elections held last June and August, in which the Semilla Movement candidate, Bernardo Arévalo de León, won.
At the end of September, the Public Prosecutor’s Office seized, in an unprecedented procedure, voting records after having carried out raids to the headquarters of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal and to the Seed Movement.
Central America
Guatemala Police Arrest Prison Guard Caught in the Act of Extortion
Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC) arrested a suspected extortionist in the act during an operation carried out in the department of Quiché, authorities reported.
According to the police report, the arrest took place in Zone 1 of Santa Cruz del Quiché after officers responded to a citizen complaint. Agents from Precinct 71 identified the suspect as Encarnación “N”, 41, who was serving as a guard in the Guatemalan Penitentiary System.
The suspect was caught while attempting to collect a package simulating an extortion payment totaling 25,000 quetzales. Police intervened at the precise moment the money was being handed over, allowing authorities to document the crime in flagrante delicto.
Following the operation, the detainee was placed at the disposal of the competent courts to face criminal proceedings.
The PNC emphasized that such operations aim to dismantle criminal structures involved in extortion, regardless of whether those implicated are linked to state institutions, and urged the public to continue reporting these crimes through confidential channels.
Central America
Honduras swears in conservative president Asfura after disputed election
Conservative politician Nasry Asfura assumed the presidency of Honduras on Tuesday with an agenda closely aligned with the United States, a shift that could strain the country’s relationship with China as he seeks to confront the economic and security challenges facing the poorest and most violent nation in Central America.
Asfura’s rise to power, backed by U.S. President Donald Trump, marks the end of four years of left-wing rule and secures Trump another regional ally amid the advance of conservative governments in Chile, Bolivia, Peru, and Argentina.
The 67-year-old former mayor and construction businessman was sworn in during an austere ceremony at the National Congress, following a tightly contested election marred by opposition allegations of fraud and Trump’s threat to cut U.S. aid if his preferred candidate did not prevail.
Grateful for Washington’s support, Asfura—who is of Palestinian descent—traveled to the United States to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, before visiting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“We need to strengthen relations with our most important trading partner,” Asfura said after being declared the winner of the November 30 election by a narrow margin, following a tense vote count that lasted just over three weeks.
Central America
Bukele leads public trust rankings as UCA survey highlights gains in security
Results from the UCA Survey, conducted by the José Simeón Cañas Central American University (UCA), were presented on Tuesday, offering an assessment of the performance of the Government of El Salvador during 2025 and measuring public perception on key issues such as security and the economy.
According to the survey, President Nayib Bukele received an average score of 8.39 for his performance in 2025. In the category measuring levels of trust in national institutions and social actors, Bukele led the ranking with 77% public confidence, surpassing the Central Government (69.6%), the Armed Forces (69.1%), the National Civil Police (PNC), and the Catholic Church (58.4%), among others.
The survey also highlights an upward trend in the president’s evaluation. While Bukele scored 8.15 for his performance in 2024, the most recent assessment of his sixth year in office showed an increase to 8.39.
Meanwhile, the Government of El Salvador as a whole was rated 8.33 for its performance during 2025.
Respondents identified public security as the area showing the greatest progress in the country, with 62.7% recognizing improvements in this sector, according to the UCA survey released on Tuesday.
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