South America Watch Thread

User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

Peru’s President Survives Second Impeachment Effort in Eight Months
by Franklin Briceno and Regina Garcia Cano
March 29, 2022

https://www.latinorebels.com/2022/03/29 ... enteffort/

Introduction:
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pedro Castillo, Peru’s embattled president, avoided joining the South American nation’s list of impeached leaders as opposition lawmakers Monday night failed to get enough votes to remove him from office eight months into his term.

Castillo, a political neophyte who shook the country when he defeated the political elite to become president, survived his second impeachment attempt. He characterized the accusations against him as speculation and argued that none could be substantiated.

The votes of at least 87 of the 130 lawmakers were needed to remove the president. Fifty-five voted in favor, 54 against and 19 abstained.

“I salute that common sense, responsibility and democracy prevailed,” Castillo tweeted after the vote. “I recognize the lawmakers who voted against the vacancy, and I respect the decision of those who did. I call everyone to turn this page and work together for the great challenges of the country.”

The lawmakers seeking to remove Castillo had noted he is the subject of three preliminary investigations into possible corruption, which under Peruvian law cannot proceed until he is out of office. There is also a separate accusation from a would-be collaborator who alleged he is part of a criminal group that receives money in exchange for public works.
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
weatheriscool
Posts: 12727
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 6:16 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by weatheriscool »

caltrek wrote: Sun Apr 03, 2022 9:20 pm Peru’s President Survives Second Impeachment Effort in Eight Months
by Franklin Briceno and Regina Garcia Cano
March 29, 2022

https://www.latinorebels.com/2022/03/29 ... enteffort/

Introduction:
LIMA, Peru (AP) — Pedro Castillo, Peru’s embattled president, avoided joining the South American nation’s list of impeached leaders as opposition lawmakers Monday night failed to get enough votes to remove him from office eight months into his term.

Castillo, a political neophyte who shook the country when he defeated the political elite to become president, survived his second impeachment attempt. He characterized the accusations against him as speculation and argued that none could be substantiated.

The votes of at least 87 of the 130 lawmakers were needed to remove the president. Fifty-five voted in favor, 54 against and 19 abstained.

“I salute that common sense, responsibility and democracy prevailed,” Castillo tweeted after the vote. “I recognize the lawmakers who voted against the vacancy, and I respect the decision of those who did. I call everyone to turn this page and work together for the great challenges of the country.”

The lawmakers seeking to remove Castillo had noted he is the subject of three preliminary investigations into possible corruption, which under Peruvian law cannot proceed until he is out of office. There is also a separate accusation from a would-be collaborator who alleged he is part of a criminal group that receives money in exchange for public works.
Reminds me of Donald Trump! Survived being impeached and probably will probably survive another if he wins in 2024. :lol:
User avatar
Yuli Ban
Posts: 4631
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 4:44 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by Yuli Ban »

And remember my friend, future events such as these will affect you in the future
weatheriscool
Posts: 12727
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 6:16 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by weatheriscool »

Peru declares one-month state of emergency on highways amid protests over increasing fuel prices



Quote:
This is why inflation is so serious. While elites in our country joke about inflation and dismiss it as a concern, this is Peru.
Quote:
TENS OF THOUSANDS took to the streets to protest Communist President Pedro Castillo as inflation soars and food shortages hit Peru.
Quote:
Peru declares one-month state of emergency on highways amid protests over increasing fuel prices

Peru announced a one-month state of emergency on all its highways with the aim to clear road blocks by truckers protesting against increase in fuel prices.
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

Why Latin America's Decline in Venture Capital Investment Isn't Necessarily Bad News
by Anna Heim
April 13, 2022

https://techcrunch.com/2022/04/13/why-l ... -bad-news/

Introduction:
(TechCrunch) That global venture capital slowed down in Q1 2022 might no longer be news to you. But global numbers can hide diverging realities around the world, and a closer look at regional data shows us that it is indeed the case.

According to CB Insights’ latest State of Venture report, the amount of funding flowing into U.S.-based and Asian startups did decline, in line with the global trend. However, their European, Canadian, and African counterparts attracted more dollars in Q1 2022 than they did in the previous quarter. Finding out why will keep us busy over the week – but today, our focus will be Latin America.

Latin America is an interesting place to dive into what might be coming for startups. Why? Because VC investment in the region didn’t start slowing down in the last few weeks: Dollar funding has now fallen for three consecutive quarters in the region. In other words, this mood swing precedes the war in Ukraine, the technology stock selloff, and signs of a global slowdown by several months.

Some of the questions raised by Latin America’s VC deceleration are the same as elsewhere: How can private investment into startups sustain an accelerated pace when interest rates are rising and public valuations are tanking? Other interrogations, however, are more specific to the region: Did valuations get too high, too fast compared to other regions? Did FOMO peak earlier in Latin America? Does long-term bullishness still make sense?

To appreciate what’s happening south of the U.S. border, we crunched some numbers, because this wouldn’t be The Exchange otherwise. We also pinged two investors with interesting perspectives on the region: Amy Cheetham, a partner at Costanoa, and Mexico-based Belgian VC Jonathan Lewy, co-founder and managing partner at Investo.
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

U.S. to Ease a Few Economic Sanctions Against Venezuela
by Regina Garcia Cano
May 18, 2022

Introduction:
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP via Latino Rebels) — The United States government is moving to ease a few economic sanctions on Venezuela in a gesture meant to encourage resumed negotiations between the U.S.-backed opposition and the government of President Nicolás Maduro.

The limited changes will allow Chevron Corp. to negotiate its license with the state-owned oil company, PDVSA, but not to drill or export any petroleum of Venezuelan origin, two senior U.S. government officials told the Associated Press late Monday. The officials spoke under the condition of anonymity because the formal announcement had not been made.

Additionally, Carlos Erik Malpica-Flores, a former high-ranking PDVSA official and nephew of Venezuela’s first lady, will be removed from a list of sanctioned individuals, they said.

Hours after the announcement Tuesday, the opposition and Venezuela’s government acknowledged they had begun conversations on possibly restarting negotiations.

The moves follow goodwill gestures by Maduro after meeting in March with representatives of the administration of President Joe Biden and a recent gathering in Central America between U.S. officials and the main Unitary Platform opposition coalition to discuss a path forward.
Read more here: https://www.latinorebels.com/2022/05/18 ... sanctions/
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

How Chile Drafted a New Constitution to Rewrite Pinochet-era Laws
by Amy Goodman
May 22, 2022

Introduction:
(Democracy Now! via Alternet) In a historic milestone, Chile has finalized a draft of its first-ever democratically written constitution to replace the one created under the U.S.-backed neoliberal dictator Augusto Pinochet. The new constitution is expected to enshrine a wide range of human rights and social programs, including free universal access to healthcare, higher education, reproductive rights, as well as more robust environmental safeguards and policies to promote gender and racial equity. It will also for the first time recognize Chile’s Indigenous peoples and offer restitution for historically Indigenous lands, but does not include a measure to nationalize parts of the country’s mining industry. “It has been a demand of social movements, of the civil society in Chile for decades,” says Pablo Abufom, member of Chile’s “Solidaridad” movement.
Read more here: https://www.alternet.org/2022/05/chile/
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

Why ‘Bolivia is the Centre of the World’ for People’s Movements
by Rogelio Mayta
May 22, 2022

Introduction:
(Janata Weekly) Humanity finds itself at a crucial moment. It’s not only war and climate change that threaten life on our planet. Ideologies and some people do too.

We know that money and the production of wealth and well-being have created an ever greater and more profound gap between people, neighbourhoods, cities and countries—a gap that has been exacerbated by the pandemic.

So, I’d like us (my fellow Bolivians and Indigenous peoples) to stop thinking of ourselves as the poor periphery of a process of globalisation that has been unequal, colonial and racist.

In Bolivia, since the beginning of this century, we have battled some of the most important and decisive questions for the future of the human race: water, our sacred coca leaf, the goods we have which we can share thanks to the generosity of the Pachamama (a goddess revered by the indigenous peoples of the Andes. In Inca mythology she is an "Earth Mother" type goddess, and a fertility goddess who presides over planting and harvesting, embodies the mountains, and causes earthquakes) and, of course, the right to make decisions collectively about our lives.

Each battle, each sacrifice made, from places like El Alto and Cochabamba, has repeatedly confronted us with the owners of power and money.
Read more here: https://janataweekly.org/why-bolivia-is ... movements/

Source for definition of Pachamama: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pachamama ... arthquakes.
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
caltrek
Posts: 6474
Joined: Mon May 17, 2021 1:17 pm

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by caltrek »

A New Colombia? Petro Wins First-Round Victory in Presidential Vote
by W.T. Whitney
June 1, 2022

Extract:
(Counterpunch) Gustavo Petro and Francia Marquez, presidential and vice-presidential candidates of the Historical Pact coalition, scored a first-round victory in elections held on May 29. They are forerunners of a new kind of government for Colombia.

If they prevail in second-round voting on June 19, they will head Colombia’s first ever people-centered government. Petro’s opponent will be the May 29 runner-up Rodolfo Hernández.

The tallies were: Petro, 40.3 percent (8.333.338 votes); Hernández, 28.1 percent (5.815.377 votes); Federico Gutiérrez, 23.9 percent (4.939.579 votes). Other candidates shared the remaining votes. The voter participation rate was 54 percent, standard for Colombia.

The Historical Pact faces an uphill battle as it approaches the voting on June 19. According to an observer, opposition candidate Rodolfo Hernández will inherit the institutional and personnel resources the Duque government dedicated to the Federico Gutiérrez campaign. First – round voters for the several rightwing candidates will now turn to Hernández. The Historical Pact will have to engage with Colombians who did not vote on May 29.
Source: https://www.counterpunch.org/2022/06/0 ... tial-vote/
Don't mourn, organize.

-Joe Hill
User avatar
Time_Traveller
Posts: 2023
Joined: Sun May 16, 2021 4:49 pm
Location: Clermont, Indiana, USA, October 7th 2019 B.C.E

Re: South America Watch Thread

Post by Time_Traveller »

Bolivia sentences ex-president to 10 years in prison after coup trial
June 10, 2022

Bolivia’s former interim president, Jeanine Áñez, was convicted late Friday of leading an alleged coup that deposed her left-wing predecessor, and she was sentenced to 10 years in prison after a closely watched trial.

Áñez, a conservative whose presidency was backed by the Trump administration, came to power after a political crisis in 2019. She replaced socialist President Evo Morales, who fled into exile amid protests over his attempt to serve a fourth consecutive term, after an election that critics said was marred by fraud.

In the absence of Morales and other top leaders from his Movement for Socialism, Áñez — then vice president of the Bolivian Senate — declared herself the nation’s interim president and was soon recognized by the United States.

On Friday, a Bolivian court convicted the 54-year-old Áñez of violating the constitution and of dereliction of duty. The verdict against the polarizing figure, in a trial that tested the politically volatile South American nation, has raised concerns about political interference in the country’s weak justice system. But the verdict was also met with praise from critics who accused Áñez of staging a coup and presiding over systematic human rights violations.

Áñez has denied all wrongdoing and said she plans to appeal.
https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/20 ... arce-coup/
"We all have our time machines, don't we. Those that take us back are memories...And those that carry us forward, are dreams."

-H.G Wells.
Post Reply