Politically Exposed Person (PEP) Weekly Digest – Volume 167

167th PEP Weekly Digest:

Introducing the 167th edition of The PEP Weekly Digest, where we present to you the most recent updates and news on the global political stage.

Recent and upcoming elections influence the worldwide political landscape in eight nations, slated between Jun 30, 2026, and Sep 13, 2026. These elections hold significant importance, as they will determine the direction and governance of each respective country’s future.

Luis Abinader Appoints Víctor Bisonó Haza as Dominican Republic Foreign Minister

One noteworthy event has occurred in Dominican Republic, The President of the Republic, Luis Abinader, appointed Víctor Orlando Bisonó Haza as the new Minister of Foreign Affairs (MIREX), through Decree 554-26.

The presidential decree establishes that Bisonó Haza will assume leadership of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the institution responsible for implementing the foreign policy of the Dominican Republic and strengthening the country’s diplomatic relations with the international community.

With this appointment, the Executive Branch is implementing a new change in the structure of the Government, within the framework of actions aimed at strengthening public management and the international representation of the Dominican Republic.

Decree 554-26 is part of the recent provisions adopted by President Abinader to introduce changes in various public administration institutions.

Vika Sivoki Lavemaau Appointed Tonga’s New Minister of Finance

Shifting our focus to Tonga, Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau has been appointed by Hon. Prime Minister Lord Fakafanua as Minister of Finance effective 17th August 2028. With the inclusion of Hon. Lavemaau, the total number of female representatives in parliament has risen to two and is the second youngest female minister in Tonga’s history.

Hon. Lavemaau has been with the Ministry of Finance as an Economist in 2011 and in 2017, the Economic Advisor to the United Nations. In 2018 she became Prinicpal Economist and Chief Economist. 2023 she served in the Budget Department overlooking the national budget preparations and climate-resilient budgeting intiatives.

The Women and Children Crisis Centre (WCCC) noted her appointment as a major milestone for female representation in Tonga’s parliament. They emphasized that her new role inspires young women to pursue leadership roles.

88.1FM People’s Radio and Tonga Chronicle congratulates you, Hon. Vika Sivoki Lavemaau, on your new role, and we wish you divine guidance as you contribute to the navigation of our Kingdom as such time as this.

Libya Central Bank Governor Naji Issa Resigns Amid Unexplained Sensitive Reasons

In Libya, the governor of Libya’s Central Bank (CBL), Naji Issa, has submitted his resignation to the country’s rival legislative chambers, according to two documents seen by Reuters.

In the documents, whose authenticity was confirmed by Issa, he said he could not continue in his post, but did not explain why, citing the sensitivity of the reasons.

Issa said in the documents addressed to the heads of the two rival chambers that he could not continue in his post.

“I apologize for not being able to continue in my duties as Governor of the Central Bank of Libya, without stating the reasons, due to their sensitivity,” the two documents read.

Issa confirmed the authenticity of the letters in a message to Reuters, declining to reveal more about the reasons behind his decision.

The two documents are dated August 9.

The two legislative chambers are the eastern-based House of Representatives that was elected in 2014 and the High Council of State in the west, which was formed as part of a 2015 political agreement and whose members were drawn from a parliament elected in 2012.

Brazil Central Bank Fines Banco Genial R$ 21.6 Million Over Crypto FX Compliance Failures

In the realm of regulatory affairs, the Central Bank identified more than 2,000 foreign-exchange transactions carried out through Banco Genial to purchase crypto assets abroad without verifying whether the customers had the financial capacity to carry them out. The case highlights two basic requirements of the financial system that regulators say were not properly followed—know your customer (KYC) rules and anti-money laundering (AML) controls, both of which are already established under Brazilian law.

As a penalty, the monetary authority’s committee for administrative enforcement proceedings (COPAS) imposed combined fines of R$21.6 million on the financial group and several of its professionals and barred CEO André Schwartz from holding positions in the financial system for four years. Schwartz was the executive responsible for the bank’s foreign-exchange operations from 2017 through March 2021.

Former New Mexico Democratic Lawmaker Sheryl Williams Stapleton Convicted in Federal Fraud Case

Shifting our attention to the United States, a former high-ranking New Mexico Democratic legislator has been convicted of dozens of federal charges stemming from a yearslong scheme to divert money from public schools to a friend’s company in exchange for kickbacks.

Jurors reached the verdict, following a trial that included testimony from Sheryl Williams Stapleton’s former colleagues, investigators and tax experts. Williams Stapleton, who declined to testify, could face decades in federal prison when sentenced. Her attorney said all options were being considered, including an appeal.

“We’re obviously very disappointed with respect to the verdict rendered by the jury,” defense attorney Ahmad Assed told The Associated Press via a text message. “Based on the evidence we put forward, we were hopeful for a different outcome.

A grand jury indicted Williams Stapleton, 69, in March 2024 on more than three dozen counts that included bribery, mail fraud, money laundering and conspiracy to defraud the federal government.

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