Central America
The Congress of El Salvador ratifies a reform for express changes to the Constitution
The Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, dominated by President Nayib Bukele’s ruling party, Nuevas Ideas (NI), ratified this Wednesday a controversial reform that allows express changes to the Constitution.
The reform, which received the endorsement of the 2021-2024 Legislature, allows the same legislature to approve and ratify the changes to the Magna Carta.
Initially, the constitutional amendments needed the vote of two different legislatures.
This amendment was ratified with 57 votes from NI and its allies, while the three opposition legislators voted against it.
The government justified this reform in the need to “have the necessary tools to face the social realities demanded by Salvadorans in the face of the constant changes that the world faces quickly.”
The original wording of the second paragraph of article 248 establishes that the only way to modify the Constitution is through approval in a legislature with a simple majority and its ratification with the vote of two-thirds of the legislators.
With this approved amendment, it is added that this process can be carried out in the same legislature with three quarters of the elected deputies (45 out of 60).
Congresswoman Marcela Villatoro, of the opposition party Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA), criticized the reform and pointed out that the reform process established in the same Constitution and judgments of the Constitutional Chamber of the Supreme Court of Justice (CSJ) would be violated.
“You are calling yourself constituents, you are violating the Constitution because you are not following the process of law” and “you have found the perfect excuse to upset the substance of the Constitution,” said the legislator.
The ruling deputy Caleb Navarro said that this reform would also serve to remove the political debt to the parties, with which they receive public funds for their work, which includes political campaigns prior to elections.
In September 2020, President Bukele during his first term appointed his vice president, Félix Ulloa, to coordinate the study and proposal for reform to the Constitution.
It was in September 2021 that Bukele received a draft to reform more than 200 articles of the Constitution, but this document has not yet been presented to the Legislative body.
Central America
Guatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping
A police officer was killed during riots provoked by an enraged mob in a Guatemalan town following the kidnapping of a baby, the government reported on Wednesday.
The incidents began on Tuesday night and continued into the early hours of Wednesday in the town of San Vicente Pacaya, about 25 km south of the capital, according to Minister of the Interior Francisco Jiménez.
“There was an incident in San Vicente Pacaya where, unfortunately, a police officer died after being struck in the head with a stone. He passed away this morning,” Jiménez said in a press conference.
He explained that the unrest erupted following the arrest of two suspects in connection with the kidnapping of “a baby just a few months old,” including a woman with a criminal record.
Sports
Venezuela investigates 18 baseball players seeking asylum in Spain
The Venezuelan government announced on Wednesday that it is investigating the case of 18 baseball players who are “under the supervision of Spanish authorities” after seeking protection.
In a statement, Venezuelan authorities said they are working to determine whether this case involves “a possible human trafficking scheme,” though they have not provided any evidence of such a crime.
The Venezuelan government emphasized its commitment to protecting the country’s athletes while also denouncing the use of international legal frameworks by certain governments allegedly seeking to discredit the administration.
CNN reached out to Spain’s National Police for a response to Venezuela’s claims. According to Spanish authorities, the 18 young athletes—including two minors—arrived in Spain to participate in a series of matches but had already planned to apply for asylum. Authorities confirmed on Tuesday that they had begun interviewing the players to process their international protection requests.
The team’s coach addressed the situation in a TikTok video, refuting local media reports that he had abandoned the athletes. He asserted that the players chose to remain in Barcelona to secure the necessary permits to sign with other teams and that their decision was unrelated to any political motivations.
Sports
Filipe Luis debuts as coach in Copa Libertadores with Flamengo
A two-time Copa Libertadores champion with Flamengo during his playing days, Filipe Luis will make his managerial debut in the tournament this Thursday when the popular Rio de Janeiro club faces Venezuela’s Deportivo Táchira.
Placed in Group C alongside Táchira, Liga de Quito, and Argentina’s Central Córdoba, Flamengo starts as one of the favorites—a major challenge for the 39-year-old former player.
His early coaching career has been off to a strong start.
After retiring in 2023, Filipe Luis took over as Flamengo’s head coach on September 30. Just 41 days later, he won his first title, the Copa do Brasil. The year 2025 has already brought two more trophies: the Supercopa do Brasil, where Flamengo defeated Botafogo—current Libertadores and Brasileirão champions—3-1, and the Campeonato Carioca.
At 8:30 PM local time (00:30 GMT Friday), Flamengo under Filipe Luis will make its international debut at Estadio Pueblo Nuevo in San Cristóbal. Although Gerson, Uruguayan Giorgian de Arrascaeta, and Ecuadorian Gonzalo Plata are unavailable, the squad still boasts attacking firepower with Bruno Henrique and Everton.
Guatemalan police officer killed in mob riots over baby kidnapping
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