LatinNews Daily - 18 December 2023

Guatemala/Honduras: On 10 December US Senator Tim Kaine (D-VA), chair of the Senate Foreign Relations Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere, concluded a bicameral congressional delegation visit to Guatemala and Honduras during which the delegation met with elected officials, the private sector, and civil society leaders. Kaine was joined by Senators Laphonza Butler (D-CA), Dick Durbin (D-IL), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Peter Welch (D-VT), and US Representatives Delia Ramirez (D-IL) and Norma Torres (D-CA). While the delegation was in Guatemala, the country’s attorney general (AG)'s office attempted to nullify the results of the country’s recent presidential elections – “prompting strong condemnation from the delegation before national and international press”, according to a statement released by Kaine’s office. During its visit, the delegation met with officials of the outgoing administration of President Alejandro Giammattei to urge the guarantee of the peaceful transition of power for President-elect Bernardo Arévalo in January. Kaine stated that democratic backsliding “further drives irregular migration and poses a serious danger to our ability to work together to tackle… problems”, such as drug trafficking and transnational crime. On 12 December, Kaine and Durbin were among US senators to sign a press release supporting Arévalo, saying that: “Together, with democratic actors and international organisations from around the world, we stand in solidarity with the people of Guatemala in the defence of the rule of law and democracy.” In Honduras, the delegation met with representatives of the private sector and civil society, who discussed the investment climate and raised concerns over deteriorating rule of law and the strength of Honduras’ democratic institutions. The delegation also held meetings with Honduras’ President Xiomara Castro, the president of congress, Luis Redondo, and Foreign Minister Enrique Reina “to reinforce democratic principles, reinvigorate stalled anti-corruption reforms, and foster the political and economic stability necessary to reducing migration”.

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