Mexico lambasts OAS chief ahead of elections

AFP/Editor

Mexico’s foreign minister on Friday hit out at the head of the Organization of American States, which will monitor elections this weekend, calling his performance “one of the worst in history.”

Marcelo Ebrard said that an OAS team can observe Sunday’s legislative elections if it complies with the law, but he roundly criticized its Secretary General Luis Almagro of Uruguay.

“The performance of the OAS secretary general, Mr Almagro, has been one of the worst in history and we have told him so in the sessions,” Ebrard told reporters.

Almagro “has acted repeatedly without consulting the member states. He acts as if he were autonomous, independent,” he added.

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Ebrard cited the OAS’s role in the 2019 Bolivian elections, which he said facilitated what was “practically a coup in a country with an uninterrupted democratic life.”

An OAS audit into that vote concluded that then-president Evo Morales’s re-election was fraudulent and he resigned after losing the support of the army amid violent protests.

It will be the fifth time that the organization has observed Mexican elections.

OAS monitors last week expressed “deep concern” about political violence ahead of the vote for 500 members of the lower house of Congress, 15 state governors and thousands of local politicians.

Dozens of politicians have been murdered in the months leading up to the polls, which are seen as critical to President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s reform agenda.

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US panel backs Trump-themed coin amid controversy

The United States Department of the Treasury confirmed to AFP that the Commission of Fine Arts approved the design of a new collectible coin featuring Donald Trump, with members of the commission appointed by the current administration.

According to the proposal, the coin will feature an image of Trump standing with clenched fists over a desk on the obverse, while the reverse will display an eagle, a traditional symbol of the United States.

The sale price of the collectible has not yet been disclosed, although the United States Mint typically offers similar items for more than $1,000.

“There is no more iconic portrait for the front of these coins than that of our president Donald Trump,” U.S. Treasurer Brandon Beach said in a statement sent to AFP. He added that two additional coins — a $1 piece and a one-ounce gold coin — are also under consideration.

However, the Citizens Coinage Advisory Committee (CCAC), another body responsible for reviewing new coin proposals, declined to discuss the Trump design in late February.

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“Only nations governed by kings or dictators place the image of a sitting leader on their currency,” said Donald Scarinciat the time. “No country in the world has minted coins featuring a democratically elected leader during their term in office,” he added.

When contacted by AFP, the Treasury Department did not immediately respond to requests for further comment.

International

Fed’s Waller warns of rising inflation risks amid Middle East conflict

Christopher Waller, a governor at the Federal Reserve, said Friday that he is increasingly concerned about the inflationary impact of the ongoing conflict involving United States and Israel against Iran, particularly due to the prolonged closure of the Strait of Hormuz.

Waller, who had supported interest rate cuts over the past year amid concerns about the labor market, said he has shifted his stance in recent weeks due to rising inflation risks.

“Since the Strait of Hormuz was closed, it suggests this conflict could be much more prolonged and that oil prices will remain elevated for longer,” Waller said in an interview with CNBC.

“Therefore, this indicates that inflation is a greater concern than I had previously assessed,” he added.

Waller also backed the Federal Reserve’s decision earlier this week to keep interest rates unchanged, signaling a more cautious approach as global geopolitical tensions continue to affect economic outlooks.

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International

Brazil offers to mediate Colombia-Ecuador tensions, calls for restraint

The government of Brazil has offered to mediate in the ongoing tensions between Colombia and Ecuador, while calling on both nations to exercise restraint.

In a statement released Wednesday, Brazil’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs urged the parties involved to act with moderation and seek a peaceful resolution to the dispute.

“Brazil encourages all sides to act with moderation in order to find a peaceful solution to the controversy. It stands ready to support dialogue efforts aimed at preserving peace and security in the region,” the statement said.

Brazil also expressed “serious concern” over reports of deaths in the border area between Colombia and Ecuador, noting that the circumstances surrounding the incidents have not yet been clarified.

The diplomatic move comes amid rising tensions between the neighboring countries, increasing regional concern over stability and security along their shared border.