International
Guatemalans in the U.S. denounce bias in candidate registration in their country’s elections
March 18 |
Guatemalans in the United States are concerned about the transparency and credibility of the elections in their country, with only a few days left before the deadline to register to vote abroad, on March 25.
A little more than 100,000 Guatemalans in the U.S. could vote in the next general elections on June 25. But Carlos Lam, leader of the Guatemalans Without Borders Association, told the Voice of America that to date the number of his countrymen in the United States eligible to vote does not reach 100,000.
In Washington, a group of Guatemalans working to achieve a greater number of registrations met this week to fine tune details of the strategy of “mobilization” of their countrymen in the final stretch of registration in the metropolitan area of the U.S. capital.
Lam said that with the Platform of Guatemalans Abroad they have tried to increase the number of registered voters.
Guatemala’s Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), which is organizing the elections, plans to set up six voting centers in the U.S., and this will be the only country outside Guatemala where people can vote, Lam said.
The TSE has said that the process is progressing successfully and that thanks to the registration campaigns, inside and outside the country, “the registration of the registered population, as of March 12, is 9,206,866 citizens”.
Lam and other activists point out that the electoral process began to lose credibility due to alleged irregularities in the registration of candidates.
“We have seen with great concern the partiality of the TSE regarding the registration of candidates,” he said.
Lam pointed out that peasant leader Thelma Cabrera and former human rights ombudsman Jordán Rodas, two attractive figures among indigenous peoples and the opposition, “were denied participation as presidential candidates”.
Thelma Cabrera is an indigenous leader and human rights defender who with the Movement for the Liberation of the Peoples (MLP) won in the 2019 presidential elections more than 400,000 votes, 10% of the votes cast in the first round, which placed her in fourth position.
Jordan Rodas, who in August 2022 completed his mandate as Human Rights Ombudsman, joined the MLP as Cabrera’s running mate.
The binomial was rejected by the TSE in a first ruling on January 28. After a review and appeal before the Constitutional Court, it was rejected again.
The TSE has not given explanations about the refusal to register the candidates except for the “invalidity” in the validity of the termination of one of the candidates, which was promoted by one of the magistrates, local media reported.
The TSE did not respond to a request for comment from Voice of America on the candidate registrations.
Concerns about lack of transparency have permeated the citizenry, Lam explained, and residents abroad are following closely and there have been multiple protests against the TSE.
The platform of Guatemalans Abroad has denounced inconsistencies in the process, including the refusal to register certain candidates while others, including questionable figures, have been approved.
International
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Colombia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed on Friday that, at the instruction of President Gustavo Petro, a high-level delegation will travel to Ecuador in an effort to normalize bilateral relations, which have deteriorated following the imposition of reciprocal tariffs.
“In line with Colombia’s policy of good neighborliness and the spirit of cooperation and integration that guides its foreign policy,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement, adding that the delegation will be led by Foreign Minister Rosa Villavicencio and Defense Minister Pedro Sánchez.
“Following instructions from the Presidency of the Republic, and as has been publicly reiterated, the Colombian delegation expects to reaffirm Colombia’s offer of support to the Republic of Ecuador to strengthen control over phenomena stemming from transnational organized crime,” the statement said.
The Foreign Ministry noted that the delegation will attend the meeting with a full willingness to engage in dialogue and to seek concrete solutions to the unilateral measures that have affected the longstanding relationship between the two neighboring countries.
Trade tensions between Ecuador and Colombia escalated on January 21, when Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboaimposed a 30% tariff on Colombian products, citing a lack of cooperation in anti-drug efforts. Colombia responded with similar measures and the suspension of energy exports, while Ecuador increased transportation costs for Colombian crude oil.
Business associations in both countries have warned that the dispute is harming both economies and have called on the governments to resolve their differences through dialogue.
International
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
The long-standing argument that sports and politics should not mix may be put to the test on Sunday during the Super Bowl halftime show, which will be headlined by Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, a choice that has sparked backlash from segments of the U.S. right wing.
Just one week after his headline-making appearance at the Grammy Awards—where he sharply criticized the United States’ anti-immigration policies—Bad Bunny will once again take center stage on the global spotlight with his performance at the NFL final in Santa Clara, California.
Beyond the expectations surrounding the show itself, speculation has grown over whether the artist could again use the platform to protest policies associated with the administration of former President Donald Trump, in front of an audience expected to exceed 120 million viewers in the United States alone.
In fact, one of the most popular Super Bowl prop bets this year revolves around whether the Puerto Rican singer will deliver a direct message against ICE (U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement), similar to the one he delivered at the Grammys last Sunday.
While few expect Bad Bunny to repeat such a pointed statement, the mere speculation highlights the delicate balance the NFL must manage during the most-watched broadcast of the year.
The world’s most powerful sports league has drawn criticism from the MAGA movement since announcing in September that Bad Bunny would headline a halftime show largely performed in Spanish.
Trump himself declined to attend the matchup between the New England Patriots and the Seattle Seahawks, despite having made history last year as the first sitting U.S. president to attend a Super Bowl. He described the musical lineup—which also includes outspoken critics such as Green Day—as “a terrible choice” that would “sow hatred.” In response, his supporters have organized an alternative event dubbed the “All-American Halftime Show,” featuring like-minded artists such as Kid Rock.
International
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
Venezuela’s Parliament began debating on Thursday a sweeping amnesty bill that would cover the 27 years of Chavismo in power, while explicitly excluding serious human rights violations and crimes against humanity.
The proposed legislation, titled the “Amnesty Law for Democratic Coexistence,” was introduced by interim President Delcy Rodríguez, who assumed power following the capture of Nicolás Maduro during a U.S. military operation.
The legislative session was convened for Thursday afternoon, with lawmakers holding an initial discussion focused on the general principles of the bill. This phase precedes a consultation process with civil society, after which the proposal will move to a final debate examining each article individually.
According to a draft of the bill obtained by AFP, the amnesty would apply to individuals accused of crimes such as “treason,” “terrorism,” and “incitement to hatred,” charges that were frequently brought against political prisoners over the past decades. The scope also includes offenses ranging from acts of rebellion to punishments imposed for social media posts or messages sent through private messaging services.
The bill’s explanatory text emphasizes reconciliation, stating that it seeks to move away from “vengeance, retaliation, and hatred” in favor of “opening a path toward reconciliation.”
However, the proposal explicitly excludes from its benefits crimes such as “serious human rights violations, crimes against humanity, war crimes, intentional homicide, corruption, and drug trafficking.”
These exclusions, the text notes, are based on strict compliance with the Venezuelan Constitution, which already prohibits granting amnesties or pardons for such offenses.
Colombia to Send High-Level Delegation to Ecuador to Ease Trade Tensions
Super Bowl Halftime Show Puts Bad Bunny—and Immigration Politics—Back in the Spotlight
Venezuela Debates Broad Amnesty Law Covering 27 Years of Chavismo
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