Central America
Guatemala reform allows Semilla Party to be reinstated amid legal battle
The Guatemalan Congress reformed a law on Tuesday that will enable the political party Semilla, led by President Bernardo Arévalo, to be reinstated. The party had been suspended by a judge for alleged irregularities in its registration amidst a judicial offensive against the president.
The reform to the Law Against Organized Crime, supported by 127 out of 160 lawmakers, prevents a judge from suspending or canceling political parties, as had been stipulated under the previous law, said ruling party legislator Samuel Pérez.
In August 2023, after Arévalo unexpectedly advanced to the second round of elections, Judge Fredy Orellana, sanctioned by Washington for being considered “corrupt” and “undemocratic,” used this law to suspend Semilla’s legal status, allegedly for presenting false signatures in its 2017 registration.
The law allowed the provisional suspension of “the registrations of legal entities” when they had been used to commit an “illegal act,” which Orellana attributed to the alleged false signatures. However, legal experts argued that this case should have been handled by the electoral court.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office, led by Consuelo Porras, also sanctioned by the U.S., is leading an offensive against Arévalo and his party, which jeopardized the president’s inauguration in January.
In compliance with the judicial order issued by Orellana, the Supreme Electoral Tribunal disqualified Semilla on November 3 of the previous year.
The new reforms now establish that this law does not apply to political organizations, which are subject to the Electoral Law and Political Parties Law, not the criminal code.
“We are telling the coup plotters ‘no more legal tricks to persecute the political opposition,’” said ruling party congressman José Carlos Sanabria, referring to Orellana and Porras.
Central America
Honduras arrests former military leaders over 2009 killings
Former Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff of Honduras, General Romeo Vásquez, was arrested on Sunday as the alleged person responsible for the 2009 killings of two individuals by military personnel, just days after leading the coup against former President Manuel Zelaya.
Along with him, the Deputy Chief of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Venancio Cervantes, and the former commander of the Joint Operations Command were also detained, according to the Secretary of State for Security (Interior), Gustavo Sánchez, on his social media account X.
“The three arrests were made moments ago by the Honduran Police in coordination with the Public Ministry in Tegucigalpa and La Paz (west),” Sánchez said.
The Public Prosecutor’s Office had issued an arrest warrant for the three ex-military officials “on charges of homicide and aggravated assault” against Obed Murillo and Alex Zavala, who were attacked by “members of the Armed Forces,” according to the Public Ministry.
Sports
AC Milan defeats Juventus to secure Supercoppa Italiana final spot
AC Milan will take on Inter Milan in the Supercoppa Italiana final on Monday following a thrilling 2-1 comeback victory against Juventus in the second semifinal held in Riyadh on Friday.
Turkish sensation Kenan Yildiz, a late addition to Juventus’ starting lineup, opened the scoring in the 21st minute with a powerful strike that caught French goalkeeper Mike Maignan off guard.
However, AC Milan, under new Portuguese coach Sérgio Conceição—who replaced his compatriot Paulo Fonseca earlier this week—delivered a much-improved second-half performance.
The ‘Rossoneri’ leveled the game in the 71st minute through a penalty converted by American star Christian Pulisic. Just four minutes later, their winning goal came via an own goal by Juventus defender Federico Gatti, who accidentally sent the ball past his goalkeeper, who was caught out of position.
Central America
Honduras to send delegation in place of president Castro for Maduro ceremony
Honduran President Xiomara Castro will not attend Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration on January 10, an official source confirmed Friday in Tegucigalpa.
In brief statements to journalists, Honduran Deputy Foreign Minister Gerardo Torres said that Castro “will not go to Venezuela” and that a delegation will likely be sent to represent Honduras at Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony.
Regarding the $100,000 reward announced by Venezuelan police for information on the whereabouts of opposition presidential candidate Edmundo González Urrutia, Torres remarked that it is an internal matter for Venezuela. However, he noted that the situation “reflects a tense political climate ahead of Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration.”
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