René Merino Monroy
René Francis Merino Monroy (born 30 December 1963) is a Salvadoran vice admiral who serves as the incumbent Minister of Defense of El Salvador under President Nayib Bukele.
René Merino Monroy | |
|---|---|
| Minister of National Defense | |
| Assumed office 1 June 2019 | |
| President | Nayib Bukele |
| Preceded by | David Munguía Payés |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 30 December 1963 Santa Tecla, El Salvador |
| Political party | Independent |
| Alma mater |
|
| Occupation | Military |
| Military service | |
| Allegiance | El Salvador |
| Branch/service | Salvadoran Navy |
| Years of service | 1986–present |
| Rank | Vicealmirante[1] |
Early life
René Merino Monroy was born on 30 December 1963 in Santa Tecla, El Salvador.[2][3]
He entered the Captain General Gerardo Barrios Military School in Santa Tecla in January 1986, was later transferred to Fort Benning in Columbus, Georgia in June 1986, and later returned to the Capitán General Gerardo Barrios Military School in December 1986.[2][4] He transferred to the Arturo Prat Naval School in Valparaíso, Chile, in February 1987, and was later retransferred back to the Capitán General Gerardo Barrios Military School in December 1990, finally graduating in March 1990.[2][4]
Minister of National Defense
He was selected by President-elect Nayib Bukele to be his Minister of Defense.[4] Merino Monroy was sworn in on 1 June 2019.[4][5][6] He was the first ever Salvadoran naval officer to hold the position.[7] Merino Monroy stated he would crack down on gang activity in the country on 11 June 2019.[8]
René Merino Monroy faced controversy in early 2020 after President Bukele promoted him to Counter Admiral on 31 December 2019.[9][10] In El Salvador, a military officer goes into "retirement status" at age 55 which prevents them from receiving further promotions, but Merino Monroy was 56 at the time of his promotion.[3] Lawyers argued that his promotion was illegal according to article 13 of the Military Career Law, but Merino Monroy defended his promotion stating "in active service, I am the oldest in the Armed Forces. In the Navy there are fewer of us who obtain the rank of [counter admiral]."[3][10] He added, "I submitted, like all my military promotion, to the pertinent evaluations, being evaluated by an evaluation and selection tribunal appointed in the previous administration."[3] He was again promoted on 1 January 2021 to the rank of Vice Admiral.[1]
On 9 February 2020, Nayib Bukele and René Merino Monroy had 40 soldiers occupy the Legislative Assembly building to pressure politicians into approving a 109 million dollar loan from the United States to go into funding Bukele's "Territorial Control Plan."[11] The event was called a self coup attempt by the Nationalist Republican Alliance (ARENA) and the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN).[11] He was summoned to the Legislative Assembly on 21 August 2020 and asked who ordered the military to the Legislative Assembly, but Merino Monroy refused to answer.[4][12][13]
When murder rates rose in the country in April 2020, Merino Monroy credited the rise to the release of one prisoner who was a gang member.[14] He went on to defend Bukele's order to use lethal force if necessary stating that the measure will protect Salvadoran lives.[14]
Critics from ARENA and FMLN accuse him of being more loyal to the President than the Constitution.[15]
Personal life
Merino Monroy had a son, frigate Lieutenant Gerardo Antonio Merino Marroquín,[16] who died in a plane crash, along with two other military personnel, on 2 December 2021 in the Pacific Ocean.[17]
Awards and decorations
- Minerva Medal[2]
- Medal of Honor to Naval Merit[2]
- Medal of Honor[2]
See also
References
- ^ a b Beltrán Luna, Jorge (4 January 2021). "Ministro de Defensa fue Ascendido al Grado de Vicealmirante" [Minister of Defense was Promoted to Rank of Vice Admiral] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 18 March 2021.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i "01.- Vicealmirante René Francis Merino Monroy (Vigente)". Transparencia. 13 January 2021. Retrieved 24 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d Marroquín, David (2 January 2020). ""No me lo Receté yo, me lo Ordenaron". Ministro Merino Monroy Defiende su Ascenso a Contra Almirante de la Fuerza Naval" ["I did not Prescribe it, They Ordered it." Minister Merino Monroy Defends his Promotion to Counter Admiral of the Naval Forces] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b c d e Galdamez, Eddie (15 July 2020). "Rene Merino Monroy. Defense Minister of El Salvador". ElSalvadorInfo. Retrieved 20 March 2021.
- ^ Alas, Liseth. "Estos son los Funcionarios que Integrarán el Gabinete de Nayib Bukele" [These are the Officials that will make up Nayib Bukele's Cabinet] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Bukele Nombra Nuevo Ministro de Defensa y Acaba la Era Munguía Payés" [Bukele Appoints New Defense Minister and the Munguía Payés Era Ends] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Mundo. 1 June 2019. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Bernal, David (1 June 2019). "Un Coronel de la Fuerza Naval Dirigirá por Primera vez el Ministerio de Defensa" [A Colonel from the Naval Force will lead the Ministry of Defense for the First Time] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: La Prensa Grafica. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Marroquín, David (11 June 2019). "Ministro de Defensa Dice que hay que Hacer un Cambio de Estrategia en el Combate a las Pandillas" [Defense Minister says a Change in Strategy Must be Made in the Fight Against Gangs] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "René Francis Merino Monroy es Ascendido a Contra Almirante" [René Francis Merino Monroy is Promoted to Counter Admiral] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: La Página. 31 December 2020. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b García, Enrique (2 January 2020). "Ministro Merino Ascendido a Contra Almirante" [Minister Merino Promoted to Counter Admiral] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Mundo. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b Amaya, Alba Miriam (8 February 2021). "El Impacto del 9F en la Cultura Democrática de El Salvador" [The Impact of 9F on the Democratic Culture of El Salvador]. DW (in Spanish). Retrieved 9 February 2021.
- ^ Velásquez, Eugenia (21 August 2020). "FINALIZA: Ministro de Defensa se Rehúsó Revelar Quién le Ordenó Militarizar la Asamblea el 9 de Febrero" [ENDS: Minister of Defense Refused to Reveal who Ordered Him to Militarize the Assembly on 9 February] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Avelar, Ricardo (22 August 2020). "5 Momentos Clave de la Interpelación del Ministro de Defensa, Merino Monroy" [5 Key Moments in the Interpellation of the Minister of Defense, Merino Monroy] (in Spanish). San Salvador, El Salvador: El Salvador.com. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ a b "Ministro de Defensa: Alza de Asesinatos es por Liberación de un Miembro de Pandilla" [Defense Minister: Rise in Murders is due to the Release of a Gang Member] (in Spanish). Verdad Digital. 29 April 2020. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ "Lawyers Warn that Merino Monroy shows more "Loyalty" to the President than to the Constitution – News from El Salvador". World Today News. 24 August 2020. p. 1. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
- ^ Cáceres, Mirella (23 February 2021). "Ministro de la Defensa Sin Explicar Caso de su Hijo, Reportado por Ingerir Licor en una Brigada Militar" [Minister of Defense Unexplained Case of his Son, Reported for Drinking Liquor in a Military Brigade]. El Salvador.com (in Spanish). p. 1. Retrieved 29 May 2021.
- ^ Rodríguez, Alfredo; Ramírez, Karla; Alvarado, Irvin (2 December 2021). "Localizan Cuerpo de Hijo del Ministro de Defensa y Otros dos Tripulantes de Aeronave Militar Accidentada (+Video)" [They Locate the Body of the Son of the Minister of Defense and Two Other Crew Members of an Accident Military Aircraft (+ Video)]. Noticias de El Salvador - la Prensa Gráfica | Informate Con la Verdad (in Spanish). La Prensa Gráfica. Retrieved 2 December 2021.