Ernesto Castro

Ernesto Alfredo Castro Aldana (born 26 May 1971) is a Salvadoran politician and businessman who currently serves as the president of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador. Castro previously served as a secretary and private advisor to Nayib Bukele from 2012 to 2020 when he was elected as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly from San Salvador in the 2021 legislative election.

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Castro and the second or maternal family name is Aldana.
Ernesto Castro
Castro in 2023
108th President of the Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
1 May 2021
Preceded byMario Ponce
Deputy of the Legislative Assembly
Assumed office
1 May 2021
ConstituencySan Salvador
President Pro-Tempore of FOPREL
In office
11 March 2022 – 10 March 2023
Preceded bySergio Gutiérrez
Succeeded byAlfredo Pacheco
Personal details
Born
Ernesto Alfredo Castro Aldana

(1971-05-26) 26 May 1971
El Salvador
Political partyNuevas Ideas
SpouseMichelle Sol
OccupationPolitician, businessman
Signature

Early career

Ernesto Alfredo Castro Aldana[1] was born on 26 May 1971.[2][3] He has degrees in Business Administration and Marketing Studies.[4] Castro is a businessman. Before entering politics, Castro worked as an external consultant to various companies and institutions, including serving as the general director of Grupo Tres y Punto.[1] In 2005, Castro and Nayib Bukele founded 503, S.A de C.V., a restaurant management company.[5]

Early political career

From 2012 to 2015, Castro was Bukele's secretary and private advisor while he served as mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán from 2012 to 2015. From 2015 to 2018, Castro continued to serve as Bukele's secretary and private advisor while he was serving as mayor of San Salvador.[4][6] Castro was a founding member of Nuevas Ideas, a political party established by Bukele in 2017.[5] Castro continued to serve as Bukele's private secretary after Bukele assumed the presidency on 1 June 2019.[4][6] During the COVID-19 pandemic, Castro supported the nationwide lockdowns implemented by Bukele's government.[1] Castro resigned as Bukele's secretary and private advisor in 2020 to seek public office in the 2021 legislative election.[7]

On 20 July 2020, Castro was elected as a candidate for deputy of the Legislative Assembly as a member of Nuevas Ideas.[8] As a candidate, Castro stated that "we will attack the issue of corruption, we will consolidate the issue of transparency, we will address the issue of accountability, we will avoid and break all those oligarchic monopolies" ("vamos atacar el tema de la corrupción, vamos a consolidar el tema de la transparencia, vamos a hacer el tema de la rendición de cuentas, vamos a evitar y vamos a quebrar todos esos monopolios oligárquicos").[9] On 28 February 2021, Castro received 57,733 marks—the most of any candidate—and was elected as a deputy to the Legislative Assembly; he was one of 56 Nuevas Ideas deputies to be elected.[10]

President of the Legislative Assembly

Prior to assuming office as a deputy, an opinion poll conducted by La Prensa Gráfica from 20 to 26 April 2021 found that 6.6 percent of respondents believed that Castro would be the best option to serve as president of the Legislative Assembly, the highest percent received by any individual.[11] Castro assumed office on 1 May 2021, and 64 out of the 84 deputies of the Legislative Assembly voted to elect Castro as the president of the Legislative Assembly.[12][lower-alpha 1] That same day, Castro voted with the Nuevas Ideas-led Legislative Assembly to remove Attorney General Raúl Melara and five Supreme Court justices from the constitutional court.[14]

On 11 March 2022, Castro was named as the president pro-tempore of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico (FOPREL) for the 2022–2023 term,[15] succeeding Sergio Gutiérrez of Mexico.[16] Castro left office on 10 March 2023 and was succeeded by his vice president pro-tempore, Alfredo Pacheco of the Dominican Republic.[17]

In December 2022, Bukele suggested reducing the total number of municipalities in El Salvador from 262 to 50.[18] In February 2023, Castro confirmed that Nuevas Ideas was not only evaluating a proposal to reduce the number of municipalities from 262 to 50, but that the party was also evaluating a proposal to reduce the number of seats on the Legislative Assembly from 84 to 64.[19] Ultimately, in June 2023, Castro voted with the Nuevas Ideas-led Legislative Assembly to reduce the number of municipalities from 262 to 44 and the number of seats on the Legislative Assembly from 84 to 60. Opposition politicians claimed that the reductions were attempts by Nuevas Ideas to consolidate power and diminish the political representation of smaller political parties.[20][21][22]

On 20 February 2023, Castro announced that he was running for re-election to the Legislative Assembly in the 2024 general election. He also stated that most deputies from Nuevas Ideas would also be seeking re-election.[23] On 9 July 2023, Castro secured one of Nuevas Ideas' 16 nominations for the legislative seats of San Salvador.[24] In December 2022, Castro stated that Nuevas Ideas aimed to win 70 seats in the Legislative Assembly,[25] but after the reduction of legislative seats and municipalities, Castro stated that the party now aimed to win all 60 seats in the Legislative Assembly and all 44 municipalities.[26] Castro's projections were criticized by opposition politicians who described them as being "undemocratic" ("antidemocrática") and an attempt to "concentrate power" ("concentrar el poder").[27] In the lead up to the election, Castro attended four reunions with Salvadoran expatriates living in the United States; the four reunions Castro attended were held in Houston,[28] Los Angeles,[29] New York City,[30] and Washington, D.C.[31]

Political positions

Castro opposes the legalization of abortion in El Salvador. In March 2023, Castro wrote on Twitter that "there is not even the slightest possibility" ("no existe ni la más mínima posibilidad") that the Nuevas Ideas-led Legislative Assembly would vote in favor of legalizing abortion.[32]

Personal life

Castro is married to Michelle Sol. Sol succeeded Bukele as mayor of Nuevo Cuscatlán, serving from 2015 to 2018; is the incumbent minister of housing, serving since 2019;[33] and is seeking election as mayor of La Libertad Este in the 2024 general election.[34] Sol is a niece of Ana Ligia Mixco Sol de Saca, the former first lady of El Salvador from 2004 to 2009.[35]

As of November 2022, Castro has a net worth of around US$881,000 and receives a monthly salary of US$5,700.[36] In February 2023, the El Faro digital newspaper revealed that Castro and Sol's cooking company, Sociedad Castro Sol S.A. de C.V., had received US$504,000 in 18 checks from Salvadoran President Mauricio Funes between September 2010 and August 2011 to provide food and cook for the Presidential Battalion. El Faro alleged that the payments came from a black budget managed by Funes during his presidency.[33]

Notes
  1. The 64 votes in favor of Castro's election came from Nuevas Ideas, the Grand Alliance for National Unity, the National Coalition Party, and the Christian Democratic Party. The 20 abstentions came from the Nationalist Republican Alliance, the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front, Vamos, and Nuestro Tiempo.[13]

References
  1. Magaña, Yolanda (1 May 2021). "¿Quién es el Nuevo Presidente de la Nueva Asamblea Legislativa?" [Who is the New President of the New Legislative Assembly?]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 6 June 2021.
  2. Castro, Ernesto [@ECastroES] (26 May 2021). "Gracias a todos. Que Dios nos bendiga, nos ayude de cara al futuro y nos dé la fortaleza necesaria para seguir acompañando las luchas del pueblo salvadoreño" [Thank you all. May God bless us, help us for the future and give us the necessary strength to continue accompanying the struggles of the Salvadoran people.] (Tweet) (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 May 2021 – via Twitter.
  3. "El Salvador". Parline: the IPU's Open Data Platform. 5 July 2018. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  4. "Ernesto Castro Aldana". Government of El Salvador (in Spanish). 8 April 2021. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  5. Labrador, Gabriel; Quintanilla, Jaime; Arauz, Sergio; Alvarado, Jimmy (2 June 2019). "Amigos, Socios y Parientes en el Nuevo Gobierno" [Friends, Partners, and Relatives in the New Government]. El Faro (in Spanish). Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  6. "El Equipo de Gobierno, el Secreto Mejor Guardado del Presidente Nayib Bukele" [The Government Team, the Most Guarded Secret of President Nayib Bukele]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). 2 June 2019. Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  7. "Exfuncionarios del Gobierno que son Candidatos para 2021 Cumplen con su Renuncia Dentro de la Fecha Establecida por el Código Electoral" [Ex-Functionaries of the Government Who are Candidates for 2021 Comply with Their Resignation Within the Established Date by the Electoral Code]. Government of El Salvador (in Spanish). 30 November 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  8. "Nuevas Ideas Dio a Conocer a Sus Candidatos a Diputados y Alcaldes para las Elecciones de 2021" [Nuevas Ideas Announced Their Candidates for Deputies and Mayors for the 2021 Elections]. Radio YSKL (in Spanish). 20 July 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  9. Lemus, Roxana (20 November 2020). "Candidatos a Diputados por Nuevas Ideas se Inscriben para Participar en Elecciones de 2021" [Candidates for Deputy for Nuevas Ideas Register to Participate in the 2021 Elections]. Diario El Salvador (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  10. Magaña, Yolanda (2 March 2021). "Así Quedaría Conformada la Asamblea 2021–2024" [This Is How the 2021–2024 Assembly Will Be Composed]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  11. Segura, Edwin (1 May 2021). "Ernesto Castro, Favorito para Dirigir la Asamblea Legislativa" [Ernesto Castro, Favorite to Lead the Legislative Assembly]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  12. Velásquez, Eugenia (1 May 2021). "Ernesto Castro Será el Nuevo Presidente de la Asamblea para los Tres Años de la Legislatura" [Ernesto Castro Will be the New President of the Assembly for the Three Years of the Legislature]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 11 May 2021.
  13. Campos Madrid, Gabriel; Henríquez, Azucena (1 May 2021). "Ernesto Castro es el Nuevo Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa | ¿Quiénes más Conforman la Junta Directiva?" [Ernesto Castro is the New President of the Legislative Assembly | Who Else Conforms to the Directive Junta?]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  14. Meléndez-Sánchez, Manuel; Levitsky, Steven (20 May 2021). "El Salvador's President Launched a 'Self-Coup.' Watch for Creeping Corruption and Authoritarianism". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on 6 June 2021. Retrieved 26 April 2023.
  15. "Ernesto Castro Asume como Titular del Foro de Presidentes y Presidentas de Poderes Legislativos de Centroamérica, Cuenca del Caribe y México" [Ernesto Castro Assumes as President of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico]. Legislative Assembly of El Salvador (in Spanish). 11 March 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  16. "XL Reunión Ordinaria del Foro de Presidentes y Presidentas de Poderes Legislativos de Centroamérica, la Cuenca del Caribe y México (FOPREL)" [XL Ordinary Reunion of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico (FOPREL)]. FOPREL (in Spanish). 10 March 2022. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  17. "Presidente Ernesto Castro Juramenta a Nuevo Titular Pro Témpore del FOPREL" [President Ernesto Castro Swears in New President Pro-Tempore of FOPREL]. Legislative Assembly of El Salvador (in Spanish). 10 March 2023. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  18. Velásquez, Eugenia (2 January 2023). "Pasar de 262 a 50 Municipios Puede Crear "Manipulación Electoral", Señalan Abogados y Economistas" [Going from 262 to 50 Municipalities Can Create "Electoral Manipulation", Signals Lawyers and Economists]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 January 2023.
  19. Mondragón, Lissette (21 February 2023). "Oficialismo Evalúa Proponer Reducción en el Número de los Municipios y Diputados" [Officials Evaluate Proposing Reduction in the Number of Municipalities and Deputies]. La Prensa Gráfica (in Spanish). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
  20. Renteria, Nelson; Madry, Kylie (7 June 2023). Berkrot, Bill (ed.). "El Salvador Slashes Size of Congress Ahead of Elections". Reuters. San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  21. Reyes, Magdalena (7 June 2023). "Bukele: Nueva Regla es Convencer a la Gente de Votar por Candidatos" [Bukele: New Rule is Convince the People to Vote for Candidates]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 7 June 2023.
  22. Renteria, Nelson; Morland, Sarah (14 June 2023). Gregorio, David (ed.). "El Salvador Consolidates Local Governments, Opposition Warns of Power Grab". Reuters. San Salvador, El Salvador. Retrieved 14 June 2023.
  23. "Ernesto Castro Buscará la Reelección y Dice que la Mayoría lo Hará" [Ernesto Castro Will Seek Re-Election and Says that the Majority Will Also]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 20 February 2023. Retrieved 20 February 2023.
  24. Magaña, Yolanda (9 July 2023). "Estos son los 60 Candidatos a Diputados de Nuevas Ideas" [These are the 60 Candidates for Deputy of Nuevas Ideas]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  25. Crespín, Verónica (12 December 2022). "Partidos Aspiran a Tener Más Alcaldes y Diputados en 2024" [Parties Aspire to Have More Mayors and Deputies in 2024]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 2 January 2023.
  26. Crespín, Verónica (4 July 2023). "Nuevas Ideas Espera Ganar las 44 Alcaldías y los 60 Diputados" [Nuevas Ideas Expects to Will the 44 Mayorships and the 50 Deputies]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 4 July 2023.
  27. Guzmán, Jessica (5 July 2023). "Oposición: Proyección de Nuevas Ideas va Contra Democracia" [Opposition: Projection of Nuevas Ideas Goes Against Democracy]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 5 July 2023.
  28. Peñate, Susana (18 March 2023). "Diputados de Nuevas Ideas Viajan a Houston para Reunirse con Salvadoreños" [Deputies of Nuevas Ideas Travel to Houston to Meet with Salvadorans]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  29. Velásquez, Eugenia (26 February 2023). "Presidente de la Asamblea Promueve en Estados Unidos Imagen de Nayib Bukele" [President of the Assembly Promotes the Image of Nayib Bukele in the United States]. El Diario de Hoy (in Spanish). Retrieved 27 February 2023.
  30. "Ernesto Castro Dice "Reelección, Reelección" en Reunión con Salvadoreños en EEUU" [Ernesto Castro Says "Re-Election, Re-Election" in Reunion with Salvadorans in the US]. El Mundo (in Spanish). 24 April 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2023.
  31. "Diputados Sostienen Encuentro con Diáspora Salvadoreña" [Deputies Hold Meeting with Salvadoran Diaspora]. Diario la Huella (in Spanish). 9 September 2023. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  32. "Ernesto Castro: No Hay Posibilidad de Legalizar el Aborto" [Ernesto Castro: There is No Possibility to Legalize Abortion]. Deutsche Welle (in Spanish). 22 March 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  33. Alvarado, Jimmy (February 2023). "Empresa de Castro y Sol Recibió Medio Millón de Dólares de la Partida Secreta de Funes" [Company of Castro and Sol Received Half a Million Dollars from the Funes' Black Budget]. El Faro (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.
  34. Magaña, Yolanda (9 July 2023). "Estos son los Candidatos a Alcaldes de Nuevas Ideas" [These are the Candidates for Mayors of Nuevas Ideas]. El Mundo (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 July 2023.
  35. "Bukele Anuncia a Sobrina de Ana Ligia de Saca como Próxima Ministra de Vivienda" [Bukele Announces a Niece of Ana Ligia de Saca as Next Minister of Housing]. El Liberal (in Spanish). 9 May 2019. Archived from the original on 1 May 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2023.
  36. Moreno, Karen (22 November 2022). Barrera, Ezequiel; Hernández, Karina (eds.). "Los Más Ricos de la Nueva Asamblea" [The Richest of the New Assembly]. Gato Encerrado (in Spanish). Retrieved 12 September 2023.

Further reading
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