US expresses concern over El Salvador vote to remove judges
SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador (AP) — The vote by El Salvador’s new congress to remove the magistrates of the Supreme Court’s constitutional chamber and the attorney general on the newly elected legislative body’s very first day drew concern and condemnation from multinational groups and the United States.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken spoke to Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele on Sunday about the previous day’s vote, saying ?that an independent judiciary is essential to democratic governance,? the State Department said. Bukele’s New Ideas party won 56 out of the 84 seats in the Legislative Assembly in February elections that pushed aside the country’s traditional parties, already weakened by corruption scandals.
Blinken also expressed concern about the removal of Attorney General Raúl Melara, saying he was fighting corruption and has been “an effective partner of efforts to combat crime in both the United States and El Salvador,? State Department spokesman Ned Price said. Melara had been selected by the previous congress and was an outspoken Bukele critic.
Blinken said the U.S. is committed to supporting democratic institutions in El Salvador. In a statement, the general secretariat of the Organization of American States criticized the dismissal of the magistrates and the attorney general.
https://apnews.com/article/el-salvador-7f36ddc643beb49707c3a0a5887f7d4b
