Guatemala’s president-elect announces his Cabinet ahead of swearing-in

Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arévalo announced his Cabinet picks Monday ahead of his scheduled swearing-in Sunday, despite ongoing investigations of his political party.

The progressive president-elect chose an even number of female and male Cabinet members for the first time in Guatemala’s history and looked outside his relatively young Seed Movement party to staff some of the country’s most important positions.

Yeah, his party is literally called "Movimiento Semilla" which means Seed Movement.

Arévalo was the surprise winner of last year’s election, campaigning to tackle Guatemala’s deep-rooted corruption.

He said his picks were honorable people and he promised to create an autonomous anti-corruption commission to analyze his administration’s work.

Arévalo chose Francisco Jiménez Irungaray as his interior minister. Jiménez served former President Álvaro Colóm briefly in the same position and was cited by a United Nations anti-corruption mission for alleged involvement in the improper awarding of a government contract.

Asked about Jiménez’s baggage, Arévalo said he was familiar with the allegations but noted they had been dismissed.

Carlos Ramiro Martínez, a career diplomat who has four times served as the deputy foreign affairs minister including under outgoing President Alejandro Giammattei, will take the top spot in that ministry.

“Even though this Cabinet has many attributes, it shows that the Seed party, being a young party, has to give its officials to external sectors,” said political analyst Cristhians Castillo at San Carlos University’s Institute of National Problems.

He said Arévalo’s choices sent a signal of consensus and gives the incoming president a technical team capable of negotiating.

That capacity could be key as Arévalo has faced months of mounting investigations of his party and its members by an Attorney General’s Office that has alleged wrongdoing without so far showing evidence of it. Foreign election observers have declared the election free and fair and accused prosecutors of waging a politically motivated campaign against Arévalo.

Swedish government broadcaster SVT has the following headlines on the war panic in the country:

• Supreme commander to [newscast directed at children]: "Children and youths needs to understand", many are questioning about preparing for war
• "If you ask Putin Sweden is already at war". Analysis
• List: How to prepare yourself if the crisis comes. Expert: "It is not illegal to pitch a tent indoors". Here is where you need to crisis-proof your home
• Special: So many gets a spot in bomb shelters where you live. See area for area.

If you read explainer articles about why the right-wing government and the top military brass is scaring people about war you will read such bangers as "Russia is attacking peace-loving neighbours", "If Russia wins in Ukraine they will get an appetite for more" and "Russia has chosen war as it's ideology". It is a weird unserious panic though as the most prominent story on the SVT homepage right now is about the violence in Ecuador, something you would imagine getting a lower priority than an actual imminent threat of war to your viewership.

Ecuador Conflict:

U.S. ambassador Michael Fitzpatrick has arrived at Carondelet Palace.

Reported incidents of terrorism right now near the government palace and historic center of Quito, as well as in several locations around the cities of Guayaquil, Machala and province of Esmeraldas, as Ecuador's government declares the country in Internal Armed Conflict.

The State and Public Security Council has just met in Ecuador. This follows the coordinated attacks in various places in the country. Statements will be made at the end of the meeting.

Former President Rafael Correa (Leftist) agrees to support the goverment of Daniel Noboa and asks for a National Unity goverment. (Twitter - Spanish Only)

"Full support, president. Organized crime has declared war on the State and the State must emerge triumphant. It is time for national unity.

"Replace with civilian personnel or retired policemen the thousands of policemen who are absurdly in bureaucratic positions and send them to the streets. The Homeland will triumph. ¡Hasta la victoria siempre!" - Rafael Correa

His party currently controls 50% of congress.

National Unity goverment in Ecuador

Rafael Correa supports President Daniel Noboa.

The former president of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, supports the decree of the country's president, Daniel Noboa, declaring an internal armed conflict.

Correa says his party will support Noboa's actions. He calls for national unity in these moments of crisis.

♪ Strike a blow at Tel Aviv! ♪

Venezuela Urges Guyana and the US to End Military Threats

Foreign Minister Gil asked to strengthen Latin America and the Caribbean as a "Peace Zone".

On Thursday, Venezuela called on the governments of Guyana and the United States to end their military threats, emphasizing that Latin American and Caribbean unity is a key factor in preserving regional peace.

"The threats to the our region's stability, driven by Guyana and its military association with the U.S., must be decisively cleared," stated the Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Yvan Gil.

He also urged the strengthening of the unity of Latin American and Caribbean countries to ensure "our zone of peace against imperial pretensions." His statement came after Cuban Foreign Affairs Minister Bruno Rodriguez rejected the plans of the United States in the region.

On Tuesday, the Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Western Hemisphere Affairs, Daniel P. Erikson, announced that President Joe Biden's administration would help reinforce the Guyanese armed forces.

"A few days before the 10th anniversary of the proclamation of Latin America and the Caribbean as a zone of peace, the U.S. Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense made statements in Guyana announcing the intensification and increase of U.S. military capacity," Rodriguez said, emphasizing that these statements "do not contribute to regional peace."

In January 2014, the Second Summit of the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States concluded by defining a common position known as the Havana Declaration.

Through it, the countries reaffirmed respect for the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and international law. They also committed to the peaceful resolution of interestate conflicts.

Drug Traffickers Carry Out Terrorist Attacks in Ecuador

They warned that they would attack police and military personnel during the curfew.

Over the last 24 hours, Ecuadorian drug trafficking groups have been behind terrorist actions such as the burning of vehicles, the kidnapping of police and security agents, riots in prisons and the destruction of a pedestrian bridge.

For the first time since he assumed power in November 2023, Ecuadorian President Daniel Noboa declared a State of Emergency with a curfew from 11:00 pm to 5:00 am.

Previously, riots occurred in six prisons where at least 39 prisoners escaped, with 12 of them being recaptured later. One of the criminals who escaped was Fabricio Colon Pico. Just three days ago, he was arrested for alleged threats against Attorney General Diana Salazar.

The drug trafficking groups issued statements warning that they would attack police and military personnel during the curfew. This threat was immediately carried out since at least 4 police officers were kidnapped by criminals in the cities of Puerto Bolivar and Quito.

"Ecuador is under attack. Several violent acts are recorded in different areas of the country. Prison guides detained, police officers kidnapped, terrorist acts, and prison riots amid a State of Exception."

On Monday, several videos went viral showing inmates with covered faces subduing prison guards and forcing them to read a statement urging President Noboa to ensure the safety of the kidnapped public servants.

So far, the National Service for Attention to Adults Deprived of Liberty (SNAI), the institution in charge of controlling Ecuadorian prisons, has not specified the number of prison guards detained by inmates.

The prison riots and terrorist attacks coincided with the search for Jose Macias (aka Fito), the leader of "The Choneros," a group with ties to Mexican cartels.

This drug trafficker escaped from a prison in the province of Guayas on a date that Ecuadorian authorities have not been able to determine.

On Tuesday, an explosive device was detonated near the residence in Quito of Ecuadorian Supreme Court President Ivan Saquicela, located north of Quito

And to think that during Rafael Correa's goverment Ecuador had a very low crime rate

Guatemalan President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, who is due to take office today, has received a number of international endorsements, such as from the President of Chile, Gabriel Boric, and the President of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sanchez.

The President of Honduras, Xiomara Castro, has asked the Guatemalan authorities, especially the country's Congress, to respect the will of the people and give the country's President-elect, Bernardo Arévalo, his mandate.

I want to know when the next News thread is starting so I don't make a post when this one dies like when a game gets released near the end of a console's life cycle.