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1,168 machines will be used for on-site electronic voting

Photo: DES

December 8 |

The company Indra, contracted by the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to design the system for the on-site electronic voting abroad, will distribute 1,168 machines to 81 voting centers in 29 countries where Salvadorans are eligible to vote, detailed in an interview with “Diario El Salvador” the magistrate Guillermo Wellman.

He explained that four magistrates of the TSE recently traveled to Spain to know the advances in the design of the electronic voting system, both for the presential and remote modality by internet, and assured that the preparations are almost ready for the Salvadorans to exercise their right.

“As a matter of time we had to go to Spain because we also wanted to see how was the issue of face-to-face voting and how they were packing the machines. There are 1,168 machines that are going to be sent to 29 countries, there are 81 electronic voting centers,” he said.
He added that during the visit “we saw how is the case of the computerized voting, which is what has been done in many parts of the world, and we are already prepared, now we just need to check the software and go to the simulation to see how it works”.

Magistrate Wellman assured that the in-person electronic voting logistics will have a strong security system and that the company Indra has taken care of “even the smallest detail that carries the election process, both remote and in-person”.
“Nothing is perfect until the last, but we are trying to make things go well,” he added.

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According to the official, the system is quite complete and secure, in that sense, he added that voters will go through biometric recognition tests to access the ballot, they will also receive a QR code that will enable them to vote and finally they will receive a proof of participation in the polls, which will have an electronic record.

“We are going to have three machines here [in El Salvador] for face-to-face [electronic] voting, so that those who are interested and want to do so can see. The citizens will also be informed about this process”, he informed.

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Central America

U.S. and Guatemala Sign Trade Deal Granting Zero Tariffs to Most Exports

The United States signed a reciprocal trade agreement with Guatemala on Friday, under which 70.4% of Guatemalan exports will enter the U.S. market tariff-free.

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo highlighted the importance of the agreement, stating that it creates a framework of cooperation, certainty, and new opportunities for producers, workers, and entrepreneurs in the country. His remarks were shared in a video published on his official social media channels.

In 2025, 30.3% of Guatemala’s total exports were destined for the United States, amounting to approximately $4.3 billion. As a result, the agreement is expected to directly benefit key sectors of the Guatemalan economy, including agribusiness, manufacturing, and the textile industry.

“Today we have taken another step toward consolidating a country that, when it moves forward united, generates confidence, attracts investment, and creates real development opportunities for all its people,” Arévalo added.

The agreement with Guatemala follows a similar trade deal signed by the United States with El Salvador on Thursday, which includes the elimination of a 10% tariff on Salvadoran imports.

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Central America

Panama Supreme Court Strikes Down Panama Ports Concession as Unconstitutional

Panama’s Supreme Court of Justice has ruled unconstitutional the concession contract granted in 1997 to Panama Ports Company (PPC), a subsidiary of the Chinese conglomerate CK Hutchison, which operates two strategic ports along the interoceanic canal. The decision was announced on Thursday, January 29, 2026, following two lawsuits filed by the Comptroller General’s Office.

The ruling directly affects the management of the ports of Balboa, on the Pacific coast, and Cristóbal, on the Atlantic side, both of which have been operated by the company for nearly three decades. According to Panama’s Comptroller General, Anel Flores, an audit uncovered irregularities in the contract that resulted in more than $1.3 billion failing to enter state coffers.

“It is a predatory contract, abusive to the interests of the country,” Flores stated.

The Supreme Court determined that Law 5 of 1997, its subsequent amendments, and the automatic extension granted in 2021 are unconstitutional. The ruling noted that the contract renewal took place without adequate oversight and amid allegations of corruption, despite the Panamanian state holding only a 10% stake in the company.

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Central America

Guatemala President Says Starlink Terminal Found Inside Prison

Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo revealed on Tuesday that a Starlink terminal was discovered inside a prison in the country, highlighting corruption and the illegal introduction of advanced communication technology into the penitentiary system.

Arévalo did not specify which prison the device was found in but stressed that Starlink’s ability to connect directly to low-orbit satellites makes it particularly difficult to disrupt, posing a serious security risk.

The disclosure was made during a press conference attended by Interior Minister Marco Antonio Villeda and Defense Minister Henry Sáenz.

On January 6, specialized units of Guatemala’s National Civil Police (PNC), members of the Army and prison security personnel carried out Operation Sentinel at the Renovación 1 Maximum Security Prison for Men, located in Escuintla. According to the Interior Ministry, the operation aimed to reduce criminal activity, prevent illicit acts and stop the trafficking of prohibited items inside the prison.

During the operation, authorities also dismantled businesses operating near several prisons after detecting routers that were allegedly used to redirect internet signals into penitentiary facilities, according to local outlet Emisoras Unidas.

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Tensions escalated further over the weekend of January 17 and 18, when inmates affiliated with gangs staged riots in three prisons. During the unrest, they took prison guards and a psychologist hostage, demanding extra-large beds, air conditioning, transfers to other facilities and access to the internet.

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