Guillermo Gallegos Explained

Guillermo Gallegos should not be confused with Guillermo Gallego.

Guillermo Gallegos
Term Start:7 November 2016
Term End:1 May 2018
Term Start1:1 May 2000
Term End1:1 May 2024
Birth Name:Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete
Birth Date:24 June 1970
Birth Place:Sensuntepeque, El Salvador
Otherparty:Nationalist Republican Alliance (until 2010)
Occupation:Politician, lawyer

Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete (born 24 June 1970) is a Salvadoran lawyer and former politician of the Grand Alliance for National Unity (GANA). He served as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador from 2000 to 2024 and as the president of the Legislative Assembly from 2016 to 2018.

Early life

Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete was born on 24 June 1970 in Sensuntepeque, Cabañas, El Salvador.[1] He graduated from the Technological University of El Salvador as a bachelor in legal sciences.[2]

Political career

Gallegos was elected as a deputy of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador from San Salvador in the 2000 legislative election. He was re-elected to the Legislative Assembly in 2003, 2006, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018, and 2021.

On 16 January 2010, Gallegos and eleven other deputies of the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) split from the party and established the Grand Alliance for National Unity. Gallegos was the party's founder.[3]

In July 2013, Gallegos called for an investigation into the activities of Raúl Mijango regarding the government's ongoing truce with criminal gangs. On 4 July 2013, Mijango claimed that homicides would decrease in 72 afters after an increase in homicides, to which Gallegos stated "a person who has knowledge, control, and knows how the gangs act, and says that in 72 hours homicides may drop is also in some way an accomplice". Mijango refuted Gallegos' claim.[4]

On 17 May 2021, Gallegos, along with four other government ministers, was named by the United States government as being corrupt.[5] [6]

2024 election

In April 2023, Gallegos stating he would seek re-election to the Legislative Assembly in the 2024 general election,[7] but later, in June 2023, he stated that he was running for mayor of San Salvador Centro.[8] The following day, he reverted his decision, stating that he would be seeking re-election to the Legislative Assembly.[9]

Gallegos and other leaders of GANA believed that incumbent president Nayib Bukele would run for re-election with GANA rather than switching to Nuevas Ideas.[10] Gallegos stated that GANA would endorse Bukele's re-election campaign if he ran under the banner of another party instead of GANA[11] and that GANA would not participate in the presidential election unless Bukele was the party's candidate.[12] On 26 June 2023, the day after Bukele officially registered as Nuevas Ideas' presidential candidate, Gallegos confirmed that GANA would not run a presidential or vice presidential candidate, stating that the party supported Bukele's re-election campaign.[13] Gallegos failed to win re-election.[14]

On 4 March 2024, Gallegos announced that he would retire from politics, stating that GANA needed new opportunities to grow.[15]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: «Insistiré en Apoyar Todas Aquellas Propuestas Dirigidas en dar Seguridad y Tranquilidad a los Salvadoreños», Guillermo Gallegos, Fundador del Partido GANA. "I Will Insist on Supporting All Those Proposals Directed at Giving Security and Tranquility to Salvadorans", Guillermo Gallegos, Founder of the GANA Party. es. 1 January 2021. 19 July 2023. Dario El Salvador. Yanuario. Gómez.
  2. Web site: Perfil Público Diputado Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete. Public Profile Deputy Guillermo Antonio Gallegos Navarrete. es. 19 July 2023. Government of El Salvador.
  3. Web site: GANA Firma Acta de Constitución como Instituto Político. GANA Signs Constitutional Act as Political Institution. es. 16 January 2010. 19 July 2023. El Diario de Hoy. https://web.archive.org/web/20100116200523/http://www.elsalvador.com/mwedh/nota/nota_completa.asp?idCat=6351&idArt=4433701. 16 January 2010. dead.
  4. Web site: El Salvador Politicians Demand Investigation into Truce Mediator. 5 July 2013. 24 February 2023. Marguerite. Cawley. InSight Crime. https://web.archive.org/web/20221003104906/https://insightcrime.org/news/brief/el-salvador-politicians-order-investigation-into-truce-mediator/. 3 October 2022. live.
  5. Web site: U.S. names El Salvador President's Aide on "Corrupt Officials" List. 17 May 2021. 8 June 2021. Reuters. Nelson. Renteria. Ted. Hesson.
  6. Web site: US Report: Allies of El Salvador's President Deemed Corrupt. Sentinel Colorado. 18 May 2021. 8 June 2021. Joshua. Goodman.
  7. Web site: Guillermo Gallegos Buscará un Período Más en la Asamblea Porque "Bukele se lo Pidió". Guillermo Gallegos Will Seek Another Term in the Assembly Because "Bukele Asked For It". es. 25 April 2023. 30 April 2023. El Diario de Hoy. Jessica. García.
  8. Web site: Guillermo Gallegos Buscará Candidatura por la Alcaldía de San Salvador Centro. Guillermo Gallegos Seeks Candidacy for the Mayorship of San Salvador Centro. es. 25 June 2023. 26 June 2023. El Mundo. Dennis. Acosta.
  9. Web site: Guillermo Gallegos se Retracta de Candidatura como Alcalde de San Salvador Centro. Guillermo Gallegos Retracts Candidacy as Mayor of San Salvador Centro. es. 26 June 2023. 26 June 2023. El Mundo. Jessica. Guzmán.
  10. Web site: GANA no Descarta una Coalición para Respaldar a Bukele en una Posible Candidatura Presidencial. GANA does not Discard a Coalition to Support Bukele in a Possible Presidential Candidacy. es. 19 September 2022. 26 June 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.
  11. Web site: GANA Apoyará la Reelección de Bukele Aunque Cambie de Partido. GANA Supports the Re-Election of Bukele if He Changes Party. es. 11 July 2022. Denni. Portillo. Gabriela. Villarroel. El Diario de Hoy. 21 March 2023.
  12. Web site: Diputado Guillermo Gallegos: «Al Único Candidato Presidencial que Podemos Llevar es a Nayib Bukele». Deputy Guillermo Gallegos: "The Only Presidential Candidate that We Can Take is Nayib Bukele". es. 16 June 2023. 18 June 2023. La Noticia SV. Jonathan. Guerrero. San Salvador, El Salvador.
  13. Web site: Gana No Presentará Candidato a Presidente para Apoyar a Bukele. GANA Will Not Present a Candidate for President to Support Bukele. es. 27 June 2023. 27 June 2023. El Mundo. Verónica. Crespín.
  14. Web site: Diputados de Nuevas Ideas, Aliados de Bukele y Opositores, Perdieron su Curul en la Asamblea Legislativa. Deputies of Nuevas Ideas, Bukele's Allies, and Members of the Opposition who Lost Their Seat in the Legislative Assembly. es. 18 February 2024. 19 February 2024. La Noticia SV. David. Morales. El Salvador.
  15. Web site: Dip. Guillermo Gallegos: "Yo he Decidido Cerrar mi Ciclo como Candidato Político o Candidato a Elección Popular". Deputy Guillermo Gallegos: "I Have Decided to Close my Cycle as a Political Candidate or a Candidate to Popular Election. es. 4 March 2024. 4 March 2024. La Noticia SV. Benjamín. Beltrán. El Salvador.