Podcast: Nicaragua’s “Angel of Death” Falls from Grace
<p>Rosario Murillo removes two Ortega loyalists as she prepares to nominate a new Supreme Court in her image, Nayib Bukele changes the penal code to give soldiers formal civilian policing powers contrary to the constitution, and he asks the Trump administration to deport MS-13 leaders.</p>
Roman Gressier
CENTRAL AMERICA IN MINUTES, Ep. 16: Rosario Murillo orders the removal of presidential security advisor Horacio Rocha and interim Supreme Court president Marvin Aguilar as Murillo, the newly minted “co-president” of Nicaragua, prepares to nominate a reduced nine-seat Supreme Court in her image.
Nayib Bukele slates changes to the Salvadoran penal code to make soldiers “agents of authority” when “accompanying or carrying out functions of public security”, despite the constitution’s reservation of those tasks for the National Civil Police.
In exchange for extensive cooperation with the Trump administration to receive increased regional deportees, Bukele asks the U.S. to deport MS-13 leaders who are on trial in New York, and with whom he had negotiated a reduction in homicides.
El Faro English translates Central America. Listen to Central America in Minutes every Friday on major podcast platforms.