Deputies and politicians describe a tweet from the US ambassador to Bukele as “interference” | News from El Salvador

Legislators, candidates for deputies and other politicians consider that the United States ambassador to El Salvador, Ronald Johnson, exceeded a limit with the tweet that he responded to President Nayib Bukele on Thursday about the decree approved by the Legislative Assembly to redirect funds for the payment of the Fund for the Economic and Social Development of Municipalities (FODES), FOMILENIO II and veterans, among others.

President Bukele assured through his Twitter account that the decree “will not be a Law”, calling it “impossible to enforce”, and assuring that it is “unconstitutional”, for which he announced that he will veto it.

The president also affirmed that the funds “had already been allocated”, by the same legislative decree 640, and said that the Government “does not have to go to the Assembly to request an allocation of something that has already been allocated.”

To these comments from the president, Ambassador Johnson responded with a short sentence in English: “Games my friend. All games ”(Games my friend. All are games).

In this regard, the FMLN deputy, Cristina Cornejo, described it as “interference” and warned that the State Department should take action on the matter.

SEE: Deputies reform decree of the Trust to transfer backward Fodes to mayors

“Tonight I speak on two issues. It is reprehensible for a president to try to protect assailants of women. And the political interference of the US Ambassador is reprehensible, The @StateDept must take action on the matter. Democracy and sovereignty deserve respect ”, Deputy Cornejo wrote on her Twitter account.

The ARENA deputy, Martha Evelyn Batres, also reacted, who posted on her Twitter account: “Ambassador, in the Assembly we do not play with the Salvadoran people, we prioritize their needs, that is why we vote.”

The mayor of Santa Tecla, Roberto d’Aubuisson, also spoke about it, who said that on behalf of all mayors he can affirm that “it is not a game to be unable to meet the needs of the population that benefits from FODES funds” , so that tweet is unfortunate.

On the other hand, the candidate for deputy for San Salvador of the VAMOS party, Claudia Ortiz, also questioned the words of the US diplomat, which she described as “unacceptable.”

Read more: Young Izalqueños without scholarships due to lack of Fodes in mayor

“Mr. Ambassador, you have exceeded a limit, out of respect for your position, the American people and the Salvadoran people, you must not intervene in internal affairs or take part. The division of powers is the basis for democracy. Your comment is unacceptable “Ortiz said.

Also disagreed was the deputy candidate for the Nuestro Tiempo party, Andy Failer, who said the ambassador should apologize for his comments: “Salvadorans deserve, at the very least, an apology for this type of comments and attitudes, by a diplomat accredited in our country.”

The mayors of the 262 municipalities of the country have repeatedly shown their concern about the non-payment of the Fund for Economic and Social Development (Fodes), mainly due to the need that the municipalities have to continue with projects in the communities and to be able to pay basic services.

It was recently known that a preliminary study by the auditors of the Court of Accounts of the Republic (CCR) has determined that the Government did have sufficient funds to pay both the salaries of the Legislative and Judicial employees, as well as the payment of the Fodes to the mayors.