The Organization of American States (OAS) re-elected Luis Almagro as secretary-general on March 20, underscoring the Western Hemisphere’s commitment to democracy for all of its countries.
During Almagro’s first term as secretary-general, he vocally and adamantly opposed the former Maduro regime’s human rights abuses and fraudulent elections.
Almagro’s win, “shows that even in the most challenging of times, such as what we are facing with the COVID-19 pandemic, our Hemisphere of Freedom remains steadfast in safeguarding our shared values,” Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo said in a statement.
Congratulations @Almagro_OEA2015 on your re-election as Secretary General of the Organization of American States. Under your leadership, we’re confident @OAS_official will continue to maintain a democratic, secure, and prosperous Hemisphere of Freedom that respects human rights.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) March 20, 2020
Almagro, from Uruguay, won the vote by a majority of 23 out of the 33 member states’ votes. The 34th member state was absent from the vote.
(OAS/Juan Manuel Herrera)
Nestor Mendez, from Belize, was re-elected as the assistant secretary-general. Almagro and Mendez will serve their second and final term together from 2020 through 2025.
“With Secretary General Almagro continuing at the helm,” Pompeo concluded, “I am confident about the future of the OAS and the Americas.”