International
Brussels is still “available” in the negotiation on the CGPJ
The European Commission remains “available” in mediation in the negotiations between the PSOE and the PP to try to renew the General Council of the Judiciary, despite the postponement of the fourth meeting scheduled for Wednesday in Madrid.
“The discussions between the parties continue. The Commission is still available to participate,” the Justice spokesman of the Community Executive, Christian Wigand, told EFE on Monday when asked about the reasons for the postponement of the fourth meeting.
The decision to postpone to an unspecified date is not due to reasons on the agenda of the Commissioner of Justice, Didier Reynders, nor to the fact that he has been elected today as one of the three official candidates to occupy the General Secretariat of the Council of Europe, community sources told EFE.
The positions between the two parties are still far away, other community sources added.
The last meeting of Reynders, Bolaños and González Pons to try to resolve the blockade of the renewal of the CGPJ, whose mandate has expired for more than five years, took place on March 13 in Strasbourg (France) and, like the two previous ones held in Brussels, it was concluded without agreement.
Reynders had then been “convinced” that it was possible to reach an agreement, but at the last appointment he already warned that for this the “political will” on the part of the negotiators was necessary.
While the PSOE insists on agreeing on the renewal of the members of the CGPJ before undertaking the reform of the appointment process, the PP maintains that both must happen in parallel; the European Commission, for its part, is in favor of the renewal of the members of the CGPJ being addressed as a priority and “immediately” after the process for the reform is initiated.
When the talks began, Brussels set a period of two months, which in theory would expire on March 31, the date on which Reynders should leave his position as commissioner to campaign for the presidency of the Council of Europe, although it has not yet been reported when his leave of absence will begin.
The Assembly of the Council of Europe will hold the election during the meeting it will hold between June 24 and 28 in Strasbourg (France), so that the next secretary general will assume the position on September 18.
Reynders, a 65-year-old Belgian French-speaking liberal, has been a European commissioner since December 2019, after during the previous twenty years he occupied different ministerial portfolios in his country (Finance, Foreign Affairs and Defense). He was also deputy prime minister between 2004 and 2019.
Central America
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
U.S. Democratic Senator Chris Van Hollen, representing the state of Maryland, held a meeting in El Salvador with deported MS-13 gang member Kilmar Ábrego García, a member of the criminal group classified by the U.S. government as a terrorist organization.
“Kilmar Ábrego García, miraculously resurrected from the ‘extermination camps’ and ‘torture chambers,’ now sipping margaritas with Senator Van Hollen in the tropical paradise of El Salvador!” wrote President Nayib Bukeleon X (formerly Twitter), sharing photos of Van Hollen, Ábrego García, and a lawyer sitting together at a Salvadoran hotel.
The deported gang member is seen wearing a plaid shirt and a flat-brimmed cap, seated at a table with glasses and coffee cups. The senator also shared images of the meeting on his own social media accounts.
Bukele reaffirmed that Ábrego will remain in El Salvador and will not be returned to the United States.
“Now that his health has been confirmed, he has earned the honor of remaining under the custody of El Salvador,” Bukele added.
Former U.S. President Donald Trump criticized the senator’s meeting with Ábrego on Truth Social, calling Van Hollen “a fool” for advocating for Ábrego’s return to the U.S.
International
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Pope Francis, still recovering from pneumonia, appeared on the balcony of St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican on Easter Sunday and, with a faint voice, wished a “Happy Easter” to the thousands of faithful gathered to celebrate the Resurrection of Christ.
A month after being discharged from a lengthy hospital stay, the presence of the 88-year-old pontiff had remained uncertain, with the Vatican not confirming his attendance ahead of time.
Eventually, the pope made a brief appearance in a wheelchair shortly after 12:00 p.m. (10:00 GMT) to deliver his traditional “Urbi et Orbi” blessing (“to the city and to the world”).
Although no longer wearing an oxygen cannula, the Argentine Jesuit relied on a close aide to read his Easter message, which touched on major global conflicts.
Francis condemned the “dramatic and unworthy humanitarian crisis” in Gaza and called for a ceasefire, while also expressing concern over the “growing climate of antisemitism spreading across the globe.”
He further emphasized the importance of religious freedom and freedom of thought, stating that without mutual respect, “peace is not possible.”
International
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Thousands of protesters gathered on Saturday (April 19, 2025) in major cities like New York and Washington, as well as in small communities across the United States, in a second wave of demonstrations against President Donald Trump. The crowds denounced what they view as growing threats to the country’s democratic ideals.
In New York City, demonstrators of all ages rallied in front of the Public Library near Trump Tower, holding signs accusing the president of undermining democratic institutions and judicial independence.
Many protesters also criticized Trump’s hardline immigration policies, including mass deportations and raids targeting undocumented migrants.
“Democracy is in grave danger,” said Kathy Valyi, 73, the daughter of Holocaust survivors. She told AFP that the stories her parents shared about Adolf Hitler’s rise to power in 1930s Germany “are happening here now.”
In Washington, demonstrators voiced concern over what they see as Trump’s disregard for long-standing constitutional norms, such as the right to due process.
Senator Van Hollen Meets with Deported MS-13 Member in El Salvador; Trump and Bukele React
Pope Francis Appears for Easter Blessing, Calls for Peace and Religious Freedom
Thousands rally nationwide against Trump’s threat to U.S. democracy
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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