Ernesto Castro

{{Short description|Salvadoran politician and president of the Legislative Assembly (2021–present)}}

{{Infobox officeholder

| name = Ernesto Castro

| image = Ernesto Castro with the TSE (cropped).jpg

| image_size =

| caption = Castro in 2023

| office = 108th President of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador

| term_start = 1 May 2021

| term_end =

| predecessor = Mario Ponce

| successor =

| office1 = Deputy of the Legislative Assembly of El{{nbsp}}Salvador from San Salvador

| term_start1 = 1 May 2021

| term_end1 =

| office2 = President Pro-Tempore of FOPREL

| term_start2 = 11 March 2022

| term_end2 = 10 March 2023

| predecessor2 = Sergio Gutiérrez

| successor2 = Alfredo Pacheco

| birth_name = Ernesto Alfredo Castro Aldana

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1971|05|26|df=y}}

| birth_place = El Salvador

| death_date =

| death_place =

| party = Nuevas Ideas

| spouse = Michelle Sol

| alma_mater =

| occupation = Politician, businessman

| signature = Ernesto Castro signature.svg

}}

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.

Early career

Ernesto Alfredo Castro Aldana{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/quien-es-el-nuevo-presidente-de-la-nueva-asamblea-legislativa/|title=¿Quién es el Nuevo Presidente de la Nueva Asamblea Legislativa?|trans-title=Who is the New President of the New Legislative Assembly?|language=es|work=El Mundo|first1=Yolanda|last1=Magaña|date=1 May 2021|access-date=6 June 2021}} was born on 26 May 1971.{{Cite tweet|last=Castro|first=Ernesto|user=ECastroES|number=1397748729545904129|date=26 May 2021|title=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.|trans-title=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.|language=es|access-date=27 May 2021}}{{cite web|title=El Salvador|url=https://data.ipu.org/content/el-salvador?chamber_id=13380|work=Parline: the IPU's Open Data Platform|language=en|date=5 July 2018|access-date=11 May 2021}} He has degrees in Business Administration and Marketing Studies.{{cite web|url=https://www.transparencia.gob.sv/institutions/capres/officials/11605|title=Ernesto Castro Aldana|language=es|date=8 April 2021|access-date=11 May 2021|work=Government of El Salvador}} 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. In 2006, Castro, Nayib Bukele, Karim Bukele, and Andrés García founded 503, S.A de C.V., a restaurant management company.{{cite web|url=https://elfaro.net/es/201906/el_salvador/23362/Amigos-socios-y-parientes-en-el-nuevo-Gobierno.htm|title=Amigos, Socios y Parientes en el Nuevo Gobierno|trans-title=Friends, Partners, and Relatives in the New Government|language=es|date=2 June 2019|access-date=13 September 2023|work=El Faro|first1=Gabriel|last1=Labrador|first2=Jaime|last2=Quintanilla|first3=Sergio|last3=Arauz|first4=Jimmy|last4=Alvarado}}{{cite web|url=https://elfaro.net/en/202110/centroamerica/0000025799-bukeles-party-now-has-a-clone-in-guatemala|title=Bukele's Party Now Has a Clone in Guatemala|language=en|date=25 October 2021|access-date=25 October 2021|work=El Faro|first1=Roman|last1=Gressier|first2=Gabriel|last2=Labrador}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://historico.elsalvador.com/historico/608952/el-equipo-de-gobierno-el-secreto-mejor-guardado-del-presidente-nayib-bukele.html|title=El Equipo de Gobierno, el Secreto Mejor Guardado del Presidente Nayib Bukele|trans-title=The Government Team, the Most Guarded Secret of President Nayib Bukele|date=2 June 2019|access-date=11 May 2021|language=es|work=El Diario de Hoy}} Castro was a founding member of Nuevas Ideas, a political party established by Bukele in 2017. Castro continued to serve as Bukele's private secretary after Bukele assumed the presidency on 1 June 2019. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Castro supported the nationwide lockdowns implemented by Bukele's government. Castro resigned as Bukele's secretary and private advisor in 2020 to seek public office in the 2021 legislative election.{{cite web|url=https://www.presidencia.gob.sv/exfuncionarios-del-gobierno-que-son-candidatos-para-2021-cumplen-con-su-renuncia-dentro-de-la-fecha-establecida-por-el-codigo-electoral/|title=Exfuncionarios del Gobierno que son Candidatos para 2021 Cumplen con su Renuncia Dentro de la Fecha Establecida por el Código Electoral|trans-title=Ex-Functionaries of the Government Who are Candidates for 2021 Comply with Their Resignation Within the Established Date by the Electoral Code|language=es|date=30 November 2020|access-date=12 September 2023|work=Government of El Salvador}}

On 20 July 2020, Castro was elected as a candidate for deputy of the Legislative Assembly as a member of Nuevas Ideas.{{cite web|url=https://radioyskl.com/2020/07/20/nuevas-ideas-dio-a-conocer-a-sus-candidatos-a-diputados-y-alcaldes-para-las-elecciones-2021/|title=Nuevas Ideas Dio a Conocer a Sus Candidatos a Diputados y Alcaldes para las Elecciones de 2021|trans-title=Nuevas Ideas Announced Their Candidates for Deputies and Mayors for the 2021 Elections|language=es|date=20 July 2020|access-date=12 September 2023|work=Radio YSKL}} 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" ("{{lang|es|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}}").{{cite web|url=https://diarioelsalvador.com/candidatos-a-diputados-por-nuevas-ideas-se-inscriben-para-participar-en-elecciones-de-2021/13676/|title=Candidatos a Diputados por Nuevas Ideas se Inscriben para Participar en Elecciones de 2021|trans-title=Candidates for Deputy for Nuevas Ideas Register to Participate in the 2021 Elections|language=es|date=20 November 2020|access-date=12 September 2023|work=Diario El Salvador|first1=Roxana|last1=Lemus}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/Pol%C3%ADtica/asi-quedaria-conformada-la-asamblea-2021-2024|title=Así Quedaría Conformada la Asamblea 2021–2024|trans-title=This Is How the 2021–2024 Assembly Will Be Composed|language=es|date=2 March 2021|access-date=12 September 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Yolanda|last1=Magaña}}

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.{{cite web|url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/lpgdatos/Ernesto-Castro-favorito-para-dirigir-la-Asamblea-Legislativa-20210430-0095.html|title=Ernesto Castro, Favorito para Dirigir la Asamblea Legislativa|trans-title=Ernesto Castro, Favorite to Lead the Legislative Assembly|date=1 May 2021|access-date=11 May 2021|work=La Prensa Gráfica|first1=Edwin|last1=Segura|language=es}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://historico.elsalvador.com/historico/833418/asamblea-nuevas-ideas-ernesto-castro.html|title=Ernesto Castro Será el Nuevo Presidente de la Asamblea para los Tres Años de la Legislatura|trans-title=Ernesto Castro Will be the New President of the Assembly for the Three Years of the Legislature|language=es|date=1 May 2021|access-date=11 May 2021|work=El Diario de Hoy|first1=Eugenia|last1=Velásquez}}{{efn|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.{{cite web|url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Ernesto-Castro-electo-presidente-de-la-Asamblea-Legislativa-20210501-0038.html|title=Ernesto Castro es el Nuevo Presidente de la Asamblea Legislativa {{!}} ¿Quiénes más Conforman la Junta Directiva?|trans-title=Ernesto Castro is the New President of the Legislative Assembly {{!}} Who Else Conforms to the Directive Junta?|language=es|date=1 May 2021|access-date=12 September 2023|work=La Prensa Gráfica|first1=Gabriel|last1=Campos Madrid|first2=Azucena|last2=Henríquez}}}} 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.{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/20/el-salvadors-president-launched-self-coup-watch-creeping-corruption-authoritarianism/|title=El Salvador's President Launched a 'Self-Coup.' Watch for Creeping Corruption and Authoritarianism.|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=20 May 2021|access-date=26 April 2023|language=en|first1=Manuel|last1=Meléndez-Sánchez|first2=Steven|last2=Levitsky|archive-date=6 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210606100412/https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2021/05/20/el-salvadors-president-launched-self-coup-watch-creeping-corruption-authoritarianism/|url-status=live}}

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,{{cite web|url=https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/node/12023|title=Ernesto Castro Asume como Titular del Foro de Presidentes y Presidentas de Poderes Legislativos de Centroamérica, Cuenca del Caribe y México|trans-title=Ernesto Castro Assumes as President of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico|language=es|date=11 March 2022|access-date=13 September 2023|work=Legislative Assembly of El Salvador}} succeeding Sergio Gutiérrez of Mexico.{{cite web|url=https://foprel.digital/estados-unidos-mexicanos-i-reunion-del-consejo-consultivo-del-foprel-2022/|title=XL Reunión Ordinaria del Foro de Presidentes y Presidentas de Poderes Legislativos de Centroamérica, la Cuenca del Caribe y México (FOPREL)|trans-title=XL Ordinary Reunion of the Forum of Presidents of Legislative Branches of Central America, the Caribbean Basin, and Mexico (FOPREL)|language=es|date=10 March 2022|access-date=13 September 2023|work=FOPREL}} Castro left office on 10 March 2023 and was succeeded by his vice president pro-tempore, Alfredo Pacheco of the Dominican Republic.{{cite web|url=https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/node/12700|title=Presidente Ernesto Castro Juramenta a Nuevo Titular Pro Témpore del FOPREL|trans-title=President Ernesto Castro Swears in New President Pro-Tempore of FOPREL|language=es|date=10 March 2023|access-date=13 September 2023|work=Legislative Assembly of El Salvador}}

In December 2022, Bukele suggested reducing the total number of municipalities in El Salvador from 262 to 50.{{cite web|url=https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/elecciones-legislativas-municipales-segregacion-de-municipios-nayib-bukele-accion-ciudadana-cristosal-/1028984/2023/|title=Pasar de 262 a 50 Municipios Puede Crear "Manipulación Electoral", Señalan Abogados y Economistas|trans-title=Going from 262 to 50 Municipalities Can Create "Electoral Manipulation", Signals Lawyers and Economists|language=es|work=El Diario de Hoy|date=2 January 2023|access-date=5 January 2023|first1=Eugenia|last1=Velásquez}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/Oficialismo-evalua-proponer-reduccion-en-el-numero-de--los-municipios-y-diputados-20230220-0100.html|title=Oficialismo Evalúa Proponer Reducción en el Número de los Municipios y Diputados|trans-title=Officials Evaluate Proposing Reduction in the Number of Municipalities and Deputies|language=es|date=21 February 2023|access-date=21 February 2023|work=La Prensa Gráfica|first1=Lissette|last1=Mondragón}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-slashes-size-congress-ahead-elections-2023-06-07/|title=El Salvador Slashes Size of Congress Ahead of Elections|language=en|date=7 June 2023|access-date=7 June 2023|work=Reuters|location=San Salvador, El Salvador|first1=Nelson|last1=Renteria|first2=Kylie|last2=Madry|editor1-first=Bill|editor1-last=Berkrot}}{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/bukele-nueva-regla-es-convencer-a-la-gente-de-votar-por-candidatos|title=Bukele: Nueva Regla es Convencer a la Gente de Votar por Candidatos|trans-title=Bukele: New Rule is Convince the People to Vote for Candidates|language=es|date=7 June 2023|access-date=7 June 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Magdalena|last1=Reyes}}{{cite web|url=https://www.reuters.com/world/americas/el-salvador-consolidates-local-governments-opposition-warns-power-grab-2023-06-14/|title=El Salvador Consolidates Local Governments, Opposition Warns of Power Grab|language=en|date=14 June 2023|access-date=14 June 2023|work=Reuters|first1=Nelson|last1=Renteria|first2=Sarah|last2=Morland|editor1-first=David|editor1-last=Gregorio|location=San Salvador, El Salvador}}

File:Bukele, Castro y López.jpg in 2023]]

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.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/ernesto-castro-buscara-la-reeleccion-y-dice-que-la-mayoria-lo-hara|title=Ernesto Castro Buscará la Reelección y Dice que la Mayoría lo Hará|trans-title=Ernesto Castro Will Seek Re-Election and Says that the Majority Will Also|language=es|date=20 February 2023|access-date=20 February 2023|work=El Mundo}} On 9 July 2023, Castro secured one of Nuevas Ideas' 16 nominations for the legislative seats of San Salvador.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/estos-son-los-60-candidatos-a-diputados-de-nuevas-ideas|title=Estos son los 60 Candidatos a Diputados de Nuevas Ideas|trans-title=These are the 60 Candidates for Deputy of Nuevas Ideas|language=es|date=9 July 2023|access-date=9 July 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Yolanda|last1=Magaña}} In December 2022, Castro stated that Nuevas Ideas aimed to win 70 seats in the Legislative Assembly,{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/partidos-aspiran-a-tener-mas-alcaldes-y-diputados-en-2024|title=Partidos Aspiran a Tener Más Alcaldes y Diputados en 2024|trans-title=Parties Aspire to Have More Mayors and Deputies in 2024|date=12 December 2022|access-date=2 January 2023|first1=Verónica|last1=Crespín|language=es|work=El Mundo}} 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.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/nuevas-ideas-espera-ganar-las-44-alcaldias-y-los-60-diputados|title=Nuevas Ideas Espera Ganar las 44 Alcaldías y los 60 Diputados|trans-title=Nuevas Ideas Expects to Will the 44 Mayorships and the 50 Deputies|language=es|date=4 July 2023|access-date=4 July 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Verónica|last1=Crespín}} Castro's projections were criticized by opposition politicians who described them as being "undemocratic" ("{{lang|es|antidemocrática}}") and an attempt to "concentrate power" ("{{lang|es|concentrar el poder}}").{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/oposicion-proyeccion-de-nuevas-ideas-va-contra-democracia|title=Oposición: Proyección de Nuevas Ideas va Contra Democracia|trans-title=Opposition: Projection of Nuevas Ideas Goes Against Democracy|language=es|date=5 July 2023|access-date=5 July 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Jessica|last1=Guzmán}} 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,{{Cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/diputados-de-nuevas-ideas-viajan-a-houston-para-reunirse-con-salvadorenos|title=Diputados de Nuevas Ideas Viajan a Houston para Reunirse con Salvadoreños|trans-title=Deputies of Nuevas Ideas Travel to Houston to Meet with Salvadorans|language=es|date=18 March 2023|access-date=19 March 2023|first1=Susana|last1=Peñate|work=El Mundo}} Los Angeles,{{cite web|url=https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/asamblea-ernesto-castro-nayib-bukele-reeleccion-elecciones-2024-tse-voto-en-el-exterior-/1042921/2023/|title=Presidente de la Asamblea Promueve en Estados Unidos Imagen de Nayib Bukele|trans-title=President of the Assembly Promotes the Image of Nayib Bukele in the United States|language=es|work=El Diario de Hoy|first1=Eugenia|last1=Velásquez|date=26 February 2023|access-date=27 February 2023}} New York City,{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/ernesto-castro-dice-reeleccion-reeleccion-en-reunion-con-salvadorenos-en-eeuu|title=Ernesto Castro Dice "Reelección, Reelección" en Reunión con Salvadoreños en EEUU|trans-title=Ernesto Castro Says "Re-Election, Re-Election" in Reunion with Salvadorans in the US|language=es|date=24 April 2023|access-date=24 April 2023|work=El Mundo}} and Washington, D.C.{{cite web|url=https://diariolahuella.com/diputados-sostienen-encuentro-con-diaspora-salvadorena-2/|title=Diputados Sostienen Encuentro con Diáspora Salvadoreña|trans-title=Deputies Hold Meeting with Salvadoran Diaspora|language=es|date=9 September 2023|access-date=11 September 2023|work=Diario la Huella}} Castro won re-election during the 2024 legislative election.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/quienes-son-los-diputados-que-conformaran-la-nueva-asamblea-legislativa|title=¿Quiénes son los Diputados que Conformarán la Nueva Asamblea Legislativa?|trans-title=Who are the Deputies Confirmed to the New Legislative Assembly?|language=es|date=19 February 2024|access-date=19 February 2024|work=El Mundo|first1=Uveli|last1=Alemán}}

On 1 May 2024, Castro was re-elected as the president of the Legislative Assembly.{{cite web|url=https://www.laprensagrafica.com/elsalvador/EN-VIVO-Nueva-Asamblea-Legislativa-con-menos-diputados-se-prepara-para-tomar-posesion-en-El-Salvador-este-miercoles-20240501-0049.html|title=Toma de Posesión en Asamblea Legislativa: Ernesto Castro Mantendrá la Presidencia del Primer Órgano de Estado Durante Periodo 2024-2027|trans-title=Inauguration of the Legislative Assembly: Ernesto Castro Will Maintain the Presidency of the First Organ of the State During the 2024-2027 Period|language=es|date=1 May 2024|access-date=1 May 2024|work=La Prensa Gráfica}}

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" ("{{lang|es|no existe ni la más mínima posibilidad}}") that the Nuevas Ideas-led Legislative Assembly would vote in favor of legalizing abortion.{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/es/ernesto-castro-no-hay-posibilidad-de-legalizar-el-aborto-en-el-salvador/a-65074107|title=Ernesto Castro: No Hay Posibilidad de Legalizar el Aborto|trans-title=Ernesto Castro: There is No Possibility to Legalize Abortion|language=es|date=22 March 2023|access-date=12 September 2023|work=Deutsche Welle}}

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;{{cite web|url=https://elfaro.net/es/202302/el_salvador/26730/empresa-de-castro-y-sol-recibio-medio-millon-de-dolares-de-la-partida-secreta-de-funes|title=Empresa de Castro y Sol Recibió Medio Millón de Dólares de la Partida Secreta de Funes|trans-title=Company of Castro and Sol Received Half a Million Dollars from the Funes' Black Budget|language=es|date=February 2023|access-date=12 September 2023|work=El Faro|first1=Jimmy|last1=Alvarado}} and is seeking election as mayor of La Libertad Este in the 2024 general election.{{cite web|url=https://diario.elmundo.sv/politica/estos-son-los-candidatos-a-alcaldes-de-nuevas-ideas|title=Estos son los Candidatos a Alcaldes de Nuevas Ideas|trans-title=These are the Candidates for Mayors of Nuevas Ideas|language=es|date=9 July 2023|access-date=9 July 2023|work=El Mundo|first1=Yolanda|last1=Magaña}} Sol is a niece of Ana Ligia Mixco Sol de Saca, the former first lady of El Salvador from 2004 to 2009.{{cite web|url=https://liberalsv.com/bukele-anuncia-a-sobrina-de-ana-ligia-de-saca-como-proxima-ministra-de-vivienda/|title=Bukele Anuncia a Sobrina de Ana Ligia de Saca como Próxima Ministra de Vivienda|trans-title=Bukele Announces a Niece of Ana Ligia de Saca as Next Minister of Housing|language=es|date=9 May 2019|access-date=13 September 2023|work=El Liberal|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210501215705/https://liberalsv.com/bukele-anuncia-a-sobrina-de-ana-ligia-de-saca-como-proxima-ministra-de-vivienda/|archive-date=1 May 2021|url-status=dead}}

As of November 2022, Castro has a net worth of around US$881,000 and receives a monthly salary of US$5,700.{{cite web|url=https://gatoencerrado.news/2022/11/22/los-mas-ricos-de-la-nueva-asamblea-legislativa/|title=Los Más Ricos de la Nueva Asamblea|trans-title=The Richest of the New Assembly|language=es|date=22 November 2022|access-date=12 September 2023|work=Gato Encerrado|first1=Karen|last1=Moreno|editor1-first=Ezequiel|editor1-last=Barrera|editor2-first=Karina|editor2-last=Hernández}} 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.

In September 2024, Infobae published audio recordings made by Alejandro Muyshondt, the national security advisor of El Salvador from 2019 to 2023, which supposedly depicted an agreement between him and Castro to engage in espionage against four Salvadoran newspapers: El Diario de Hoy, El Faro, La Prensa Gráfica, and Revista Factum.{{cite web|url=https://elfaro.net/en/202409/el_salvador/27558/salvadoran-president-rsquo-s-office-ordered-espionage-against-journalists-and-political-opponents|title=Salvadoran President's Office Ordered Espionage Against Journalists and Political Opponents|language=en|date=17 September 2024|access-date=18 September 2024|work=El Faro|first1=Óscar|last1=Martínez|first2=Gabriel|last2=Labrador}} In an interview, Castro suggested that the audio was created by artificial intelligence.{{cite web|url=https://www.elsalvador.com/noticias/nacional/esta-fue-la-ambigua-respuesta-de-ernesto-castro-sobre-audio-conversacion-con-alejandro-muyshondt/1169242/2024/|title=Esta fue la Ambigua Respuesta de Ernesto Castro Sobre Audio de Conversación con Alejandro Muyshondt|trans-title=This Was Ernesto Castro's Ambiguous Response to the Audio Conversation with Alejandro Muyshondt|language=es|date=17 September 2024|access-date=18 September 2024|work=El Diario de Hoy|first1=Jessica|last1=García}}

Notes

References

External links

[https://www.asamblea.gob.sv/asamblea/diputados/view/AEE2AE62-AAF2-40BF-928C-0F65B6C48AE3 Ernesto Castro's profile at the Legislative Assembly] {{in lang|es}}

{{s-ttl|title=President of the Legislative Assembly|years=2021–present}}

Category:1971 births

Category:Living people

Category:Presidents of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador

Category:21st-century Salvadoran politicians

Category:Members of the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador

Category:Nuevas Ideas politicians