Hello, and welcome to the Latin America Weekly newsletter! In this issue: two speakers for one Congress in Honduras, oil spill in Peru, Maduro holding on to power once more.
Congressional turmoil sparks tension in Honduras
Honduras left-wing President-elect Xiomara Castro is set to take office tomorrow, but her inauguration could be eclipsed by a congressional controversy that led to fisticuffs and upended the country ahead of its change of leadership.
Context. Prior to the election, Ms. Castro and her Liberty and Refoundation Party (Libre) established an alliance with the centrist Savior Party of Honduras (PSH). Salvador Nasralla, the leader of the PSH, agreed to step down from the presidential race in exchange for the vice president’s position — and Ms. Castro’s support for Luis Redondo, a PSH nominee, as House Speaker.
- But 18 members of Libre broke ranks and voted for their own speaker candidate, Congressman Jorge Cálix. They argue that by having the largest bench, they should appoint the head of the legislative branch.
- Ms. Castro and former President Manuel Zelaya — her husband and political mentor — denounced the “betrayal” and expelled the rebellious lawmakers, including Mr. Cálix, from their party.
2 Speakers, 1 Congress. The schism created...