International
Schmit (PSE): “When someone asks Sánchez to be hanged, all boundaries are crossed”
The head of the list of the Social Democrats to the presidency of the European Commission, Nicolas Schmit, warned on Thursday against “turning politics into a battlefield” and considered that in Spain, “when someone asks Pedro Sánchez to be hanged, all boundaries have been crossed.”
“It is a danger in our democracy when in Spain someone asks that Pedro Sánchez be hanged, (because) all the boundaries have been crossed. And from there everything is possible because it can reach the ears of someone upset,” the social democratic candidate warned the European Commission in an interview with the European Drafting of Agencies, of which EFE is a part.
Near the end of a campaign for the European elections in which there has been an assassination attempt in Slovakia and several politicians in Germany have suffered violent attacks, Schmit stressed that the discourse of some forces (which does not limit the extreme right) “does not reach a minimum of dignity,” so “from there the next level is physical violence.”
“Politics should not be about hatred, it should be something between democrats. Between adversaries, not enemies. If politics is transformed into a battlefield, into a war, there is a danger that some madman will take it literally and grab a gun,” Schmit stressed.
In the same interview, Schmit warned about the risk that the existence of two far-right groups in the European Parliament (the Conservatives and Reformists, on the one hand, and Identity and Democracy, on the other) will lead to the conclusion that part of them are “decent.”
“What is attractive about Vox?” asked the Social Democratic leader, who stressed that his group will not enter into any coalition with individual groups or delegations that are located to the right of the European People’s Party.
The Luxembourg politician, until now Commissioner for Employment, opined that the founding fathers and mothers of the European Union and belonging to the Christian Democratic family “must be stirring in their graves” with the approaches of the European People’s Party towards the ultra-conservatives.
“Christian Democrats were among the fathers and mothers of the process of European integration and now they do not exclude alliances with those who are fundamentally against this Europe project. People like (the former Italian prime minister) Alcide de Gasperi must be stirring in his grave,” Schmit lamented.
The social democratic candidate declared himself “surprised” by the campaign messages of his main rival and current president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, and asked him to be “honest” with his approach to the Italian Prime Minister, the ultra-conservative Giorgia Meloni.
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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