U.S. Senators Robert Menendez (D-NJ) and Marco Rubio (R-FL), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate’s Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere Affairs, respectively, expressed last week deep concern regarding the ongoing constitutional crisis in El Salvador resulting from the National Assembly’s refusal to abide by a ruling from the Supreme Court:
“Since 1989,El Salvadorhas realized significant democratic and economic achievements. TheUnited Statesgovernment and the American people are committed to working with the Salvadoran people to consolidate these achievements. Unfortunately, these accomplishments, for which Salvadorans have fought so hard, are threatened by the recent unconstitutional actions of their legislature.
“We commend the broad section of Salvadorans that have set aside their political differences to demand unequivocal respect for the rule of law and the restoration of constitutional order in their country. We urge them to continue making their legitimate demands peacefully and under the law. We also welcome the statements made by U.S. Ambassador Mari Carmen Aponte and Assistant Secretary of State Roberta Jacobson, and commend the Archbishop of San Salvador, Jose Luis Escobar Alas, for his call to all Salvadorans to find a peaceful and constitutional solution to this crisis.
“We urge the Obama Administration to engage the highest levels of the Salvadoran government to gain a quick resolution to the serious constitutional crisis. The Administration must be clear in its engagement that if concrete measures to restore the constitutional and democratic order inEl Salvadorare not soon implemented, theUnited Stateswill have no choice but to consider a variety of bilateral actions that would reflect this lack of a democratic framework. These options would include immediately suspending any further consideration of a second Millennium Challenge Corporation compact, review and denial ofU.S.visas for individuals participating in or facilitating the continuation of the existing unconstitutional order, and the immediate termination of anyU.S.technical assistance through said individuals or institutions under the Partnership for Growth.”
