Honduras inaugurates first feminine president, Harris vows nearer US ties

Xiomara Castro was sworn in as Honduras’ first lady president on Thursday in entrance of a cheering crowd together with U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who pledged U.S. authorities help to stem migration and struggle corruption.
Castro’s inauguration ends the eight-year rule of Juan Orlando Hernandez, a one-time U.S. ally who has been accused in U.S. courts of corruption and hyperlinks to drug traffickers. Even as Hernandez left workplace a U.S. congresswoman referred to as for him to be indicted, and for requests to be made for his extradition.
Castro, flanked by her husband, former President Manuel Zelaya, was sworn in at a packed soccer stadium the place supporters applauded her vows to repair the nation’s huge debt burden. “The economic catastrophe that I’m inheriting is unparalleled in the history of our country,” a somber Castro stated in her inaugural deal with.
Her authorities additionally faces checks over a sharply divided Congress, and relations with China resulting from Honduras sustaining diplomatic ties with Taiwan. Harris, who was loudly applauded when launched in the course of the inauguration, congratulated Castro over her “democratic election. “In a gathering shortly after the ceremony, Harris promised to collaborate on migration points, financial growth and combating impunity, and stated she welcomed Castro’s plans to request United Nations assist to determine an anti-corruption fee.
Harris has been tasked with addressing the “root causes” of migration in Central America’s impoverished Northern Triangle of nations, however her journey comes as U.S. President Joe Biden’s recognition at residence has waned and his immigration technique has stalled .”We do very a lot need and intend to do what we will to help this new president,” stated one administration official.
Castro tweeted that she appreciated Harris’ go to and the Biden administration’s willingness to help the Honduran authorities. Harris additionally pledged to ship Honduras a number of hundred thousand extra COVID-19 vaccine doses together with 500,000 syringes and $1.3 million for well being and academic amenities.
The two didn’t focus on China, she instructed reporters. U.S. officers wish to work with Castro each to curb unlawful immigration from Central America and shore up worldwide help for Taiwan as a part of its efforts to stem China’s affect. Honduras is without doubt one of the few international locations sustaining diplomatic ties with Taipei as a substitute of Beijing, and Castro throughout her marketing campaign backtracked on feedback that she would possibly change allegiance to China as president.
Taiwanese Vice President William Lai attended the inauguration in a bid https to bolster ties with Castro’s authorities. Harris stated the 2 spoke over their frequent curiosity in Central America.Luis Leon, director of the Netherlands Institute for Multiparty Democracy in Central America, stated Harris’ arrival was a lift for Castro within the dispute over management of Congress and in addressing Honduras’ weak economic system.
“MAELSTROM OF LOOTING”
Castro stated it was “practically impossible” to make present debt funds with out a restructuring, after debt jumped sevenfold underneath her two conservative predecessors. The nation’s whole debt stands at about $15.5 billion, or almost 60% of gross home product, an financial drawback Castro continuously highlighted forward of her landslide win in November.
“My government will not continue the maelstrom of looting that has condemned generations of young people to pay the debt they incurred behind their back,” she added. She vowed to instantly give greater than 1 million poor Hondurans free electrical energy, with greater customers subsidizing the associated fee.Castro, who describes herself as a democratic socialist, has vowed to sort out corruption, poverty and violence, power issues which have fueled U.S.-bound migrants.
But her legislative program has been jeopardized by renegade politicians from her leftist Libre occasion who allied with the opposition National Party to vote for one among its members to move Congress, breaking a pact with a key electoral ally. Castro additionally takes workplace at a time of controversy for her predecessor Hernandez, who had served a most two consecutive phrases as president and had been a longstanding U.S. ally in immigration and anti-narcotics operations.
U.S. Congresswoman Norma Torres has referred to as for Hernandez’s indictment on drug prices, and for U.S. officers to request his extradition. But Hernandez could also be shielded from extradition for as much as 4 years, as he was sworn in https as a member of the Central American parliament shortly after Castro’s inauguration. He has repeatedly denied accusations of corruption and hyperlinks to drug traffickers. Hernandez’s brother final 12 months was sentenced by a U.S. choose to life in jail plus 30 years for drug trafficking.