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Bukele Extends National Emergency Law 3:19
(CNN Spanish) - El Salvador's president Nayib Bukele addressed the nation on Sunday night regarding his decision to extend the country's coronavirus-related state of emergency through a decree.
"No matter how much the business community screams, it is not time to open up," Bukele said on national radio and television.
The decision was received by a harsh reaction from the Legislative Assembly, which was not consulted before the announcement. To calm the conflict between the president and the legislative and judicial branches, Bukele used the speech to call for dialogue on all sides.
A street vendor offers cloth face masks while wearing one with a message of support for Salvadoran President Nayib Bukele in San Salvador. (Photo by YURI CORTEZ / AFP via Getty Images)
Lawmakers from both left and right parties have opposed Bukele and have scheduled an extraordinary plenary session later Monday to vote on a new emergency law, which will include plans to gradually revive the economy.
El Salvador's Attorney General's Office also formally opened an "unconstitutional decree" before the Supreme Court, saying that Bukele evaded the powers of the Legislative Assembly.
The country has officially registered more than 1,300 cases of coronavirus, including at least 30 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Nayib Bukele