Central America
“I hope to leave an irreversible path for the development of El Salvador”: President Nayib Bukele
The political opposition attempts to halt the changes and transformations driven by the Executive, while organizations and the international community try to prevent sovereign decision-making, stated President Nayib Bukele in an open conversation on Space.
The President of the Republic, Nayib Bukele, expressed yesterday that, as a leader, his desire is not only to achieve the full development of El Salvador but also to pave the way for progress and prosperity that is irreversible, preventing the political opposition from undoing the achievements.
“I want to see a developed country, developed in the right way, and that we can be an example to the world,” said the president in the conversation held last night with thousands of people from the Latin American region who connected to the Space event through the X social network.
He reiterated that the Salvadoran political opposition could roll back the advances made by the current government if they return to power.
On February 4, presidential and legislative elections will be held in El Salvador, and voters will decide at the polls whether the political opposition (led by ARENA and FMLN) will regain power or if Nayib Bukele will be re-elected.
“I want El Salvador to be an example for the rest of the world. What I hope at the end of my term is to leave an irreversible path for El Salvador in its development, and there should be no way to return to the past,” reaffirmed the leader in the conversation, where participants were free to ask questions on various national and regional current affairs.
He pointed out that it has not been easy to drive changes and social transformations in El Salvador, especially due to the resistance encountered at the national level with the political opposition and at the international level with countries and organizations that try to influence politics and sovereign decisions.
In that sense, he specified that there are international organizations that fund individuals and media to influence political power directly or indirectly, promoting “harmful” agendas for countries like El Salvador, which seeks to overcome underdevelopment.
“They basically promote an agenda harmful to the world. Our countries are not only held hostage by their local problems but also by an international elite financed by people like George Soros, from the Open Society Foundation. There are more [people] promoting a civilizational destruction agenda with the aim of making money, as every world crisis is a business for them,” said Bukele.
He added that these organizations handle immense amounts of money and power, although their leaders have never been elected by populations. “There is a cohort of journalists, lawyers following this agenda. One of their fundamental pillars is these [media] outlets,” he said.
He argued that various bodies, such as the United Nations, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (CIDH), among others, also oppose poor nations developing their own agendas, contrary to the goals they claim to work towards.
For example, once the state of exception was implemented in March 2022, as a constitutional measure that strengthened the execution of the Territorial Control Plan, international organizations began criticizing, demanding an end to the implementation.
Likewise, when removing judges, politicians, and amending laws to eliminate conditions that fostered violence, international powers demanded a return to the previous “status quo,” even though our country was the most insecure in the world.
“Their argument was institutionality, the rule of law. What rule of law were they talking about? They simply protested, almost demanded, and required us to return to how the country was. Thank God our country is different now, and it was largely because we did not heed what these types of organizations and the international community were saying, which have never looked out for us,” he stated.
According to the president, the real goal of opposing historic changes is for populations in other countries to follow the example and replace the current politicians, as happened in El Salvador with the traditional parties ARENA and FMLN.
Central America
EU Urges Nicaragua to Hold Free and Transparent Elections Amid Proposed Electoral Reforms
The European Union on Saturday called on Nicaragua to hold elections “in accordance with international standards” after the country’s co-president, Daniel Ortega, promoted electoral reforms that critics say would prevent opposition groups from participating in future elections.
Nicaragua’s National Assembly, which is controlled by allies of President Ortega and Co-President Rosario Murillo, announced on Wednesday that it would draft a package of constitutional and electoral reforms to be voted on in August. Legislative President Gustavo Porras said the changes are intended to prevent what he described as the “terrible manipulation by empires and their lackeys” in the country’s electoral process, referring to opposition groups.
In a statement issued on behalf of the European Union’s 27 member states, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas urged the Nicaraguan authorities to preserve democratic principles.
“We call on the authorities to convene elections and ensure that they are held as originally scheduled and conducted in a transparent, inclusive, and credible manner, in accordance with international standards,” Kallas said.
The European Union also reiterated its condemnation of what it described as the Nicaraguan government’s “systemic repression.” Kallas called for dialogue between Ortega’s administration and opposition groups before any electoral reforms are implemented.
Ortega, who has been in power for nearly two decades, has faced repeated criticism from the international community over restrictions on political opponents and civil liberties.
In response to the growing international criticism, the Nicaraguan government announced on Friday that it will brief foreign diplomats on the proposed reforms, seeking to explain the objectives and scope of the legislative package before it is debated in Congress next month.
Central America
Honduras Warns of Possible New Dengue Epidemic as Cases Continue to Rise
Honduras could be on the verge of a new dengue epidemic, according to physician and Honduran lawmaker Carlos Umaña, who warned about the sustained increase in cases across the country.
“We are on the verge of a new dengue epidemic because cases have been rising steadily,” Umaña said, urging citizens to take preventive measures. “Let’s eliminate breeding sites so we do not face fatal consequences later,” he added.
According to official data cited by Honduran media, the country had recorded 5,780 dengue cases nationwide through epidemiological week 26, covering the period from June 28 to July 4.
Of that total, 1,362 patients developed dengue with warning signs, while at least 100 cases progressed to severe dengue, increasing pressure on the national healthcare system.
Although current figures represent a decline of nearly 39% compared with the same period in 2025, when more than 9,400 cases had been reported, health authorities continue monitoring the situation due to the risk of a new surge.
Umaña warned that if the spread of the virus is not contained, Honduras could face an increase in fatalities, particularly among vulnerable groups such as children and adolescents.
Health officials continue urging the population to remove mosquito breeding sites and strengthen prevention measures to reduce transmission of the disease.
Central America
CDC Issues Level 2 Travel Alert for Costa Rica Amid Chikungunya Outbreak
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a Level 2 travel notice for Costa Rica following an outbreak of chikungunya, a mosquito-borne viral disease, urging U.S. travelers to “take additional precautions”when visiting the country.
On July 1, 2026, Costa Rica’s Ministry of Health declared an active chikungunya outbreak after confirming four casesand classifying 17 additional infections as probable among Costa Rican citizens and foreign nationals.
So far in 2026, Costa Rica has reported a total of 16 confirmed cases, including those linked to the current outbreak.
Chikungunya is a viral disease transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Symptoms usually appear three to seven days after a bite and may include high fever, severe joint and muscle pain, headaches, swelling, and skin rashes.
Although most people recover within about a week, some patients may experience persistent joint pain that can last for months or even years.
According to the CDC, there are currently no specific medications to treat chikungunya, but rest, adequate fluid intake, and over-the-counter pain relievers can help reduce symptoms.
The agency recommends that travelers visiting areas affected by chikungunya outbreaks consider vaccination as a preventive measure.
The CDC also warned that certain groups face a higher risk of developing severe illness, including newborns infected during birth, adults aged 65 and older, and people with underlying conditions such as diabetes or heart disease.
While chikungunya can cause significant health complications, the infection rarely results in death, health authorities said.
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