Find here the most important political and economic news from Latin America and the World .
These are the most relevant news of this week. / Photos: Freepik, Flickr-Seattle City Council
Latin American Post | Santiago Gómez Hernández
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Leer en español: Elecciones en Ecuador y Jeff Bezos deja su cargo en Amazon
Ecuador goes to the polls to elect president
Next Sunday, February 7, and despite the pandemic, Ecuadorians go to the polls to elect the replacement of Lenin Moreno, along with 137 members of the National Assembly and 16 representatives before the Andean Parliament. The more than 13 million citizens eligible to vote will have to choose between 16 candidates. The favorites, according to the polls are: Andrés Arauz (correista candidate) and Guillermo Lasso (Social Christian).
Un errático y prácticamente derrotado Lasso, coquetea a Yaku Pérez | https://t.co/Z41fmix7cq https://t.co/VOYSpCmSC5
— Rafael Correa (@MashiRafael) February 4, 2021
Polling firms predict a runoff between these two candidates, as neither is seen as a clear favorite to get 50% of the vote. If no one gets enough votes, the first two must meet again on April 11.
Mexican courts hit AMLO's energy policy
The Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation declared invalid an important part of the provisions of the Reliability, Security, Continuity and Quality Policy in the Cenace National Electric System, published by the Sener (Ministry of Energy) in May last year.
The center of this package of measures sought to give greater power to state energy companies, such as Pemex and the Federal Electricity Commission, but had strong criticism on environmental and free competition matters.
Jeff Bezos steps down as Amazon CEO
The once richest man in the world (currently ranked second), Jeff Bezos, resigned this week from his position at the head of Amazon. According to news agencies, the mogul will appoint Andy Jassy, currently director of Amazon Web Service.
Jeff Bezos dejará el cargo de director ejecutivo de Amazon pic.twitter.com/MrdTsY5efl
— Reuters Latam (@ReutersLatam) February 3, 2021
Despite the announcement, the Amazon owner will remain as chairman of the board of directors, but will now focus his time and energy on other projects. At the same time that Bezos announced his retirement, Amazon registered, for the third time in a row, a new record in profits.
Colombia appoints new defense minister
President Iván Duque confirmed Diego Molano as the new Minister of National Defense. Molano, with a career from Uribe, leaves the Administrative Department of the Presidency of the Republic, where Víctor Muñoz will remain. Molano occupies the position left vacant by Carlos Holmes Trujillo, who recently died of coronavirus.
Also read: Deforestation: a constant threat to Latin America
Pope Francis receives second dose against coronavirus
The head of the Catholic Church this week received his second dose of the vaccine developed by the pharmaceutical company Pfizer. The 84-year-old pontiff had already received his first injection less than a month ago, on January 13.
According to the EFE agency, the Vatican City Health and Hygiene Directorate reserves 10,000 doses for its vaccination campaign, which includes about 3,000 employees and 800 residents.
A Latino at the head of security in the US.
On Tuesday this week, US President Joe Biden confirmed Alejandro Mayorkas as head of the Department of Homeland Security. The Cuban-American will also address Biden's ambitious plan to grant citizenship to about 11 million undocumented immigrants.
Alejandro Mayorkas es el primer latino e inmigrante en ser secretario de Seguridad Nacional. CNN habló con él sobre las prioridades para el departamento. https://t.co/ceWQRXGlmp
— CNN en Español (@CNNEE) February 4, 2021