News of democracy

Bolivian elections

Bolivia postpones general election until October

24-07-2020 13:31 Authorities push back election to October 18. Vote was originally supposed to take place in May, but has since been postponed twice due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Global Pandemic

In struggle against pandemic, populist leaders fare poorly

23-07-2020 16:03 “Fact-denying populism is being shown its limits," says German Chancellor Angela Merkel in regards to the high number of Covid-19 cases concentrated in populist led nations.

POLARISATION AT WHAT PRICE?

Argentina: Great at failing miserably at democracy

11-07-2020 08:19 What level of tolerance to dissent are we willing to accept? And at which point does the discussion about who thinks what shut out the underlying debates we should be having?

by Agustino Fontevecchia

BOLIVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Bolivia president signs off on September elections despite virus fears

22-06-2020 14:43 Bolivia's interim leader Jeanine Áñez has faced criticism over her reluctance to hold a vote during the Covid-19 pandemic. Election was originally scheduled for May 3.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Police disperse anti-Bolsonaro protesters in Brazil

01-06-2020 15:39 Police used tear gas to disperse protesters who gathered to march against President Jair Bolsonaro in São Paulo on Sunday, as well as in "Black Lives Matter" protests that took place Rio de Janeiro.

Coronavirus pandemic

Coronavirus pandemic 'amplifies press freedom threats,' warns NGO

21-04-2020 14:32 The coronavirus pandemic is aggravating the press freedom crisis worldwide, with authoritarian governments deploying massive censorship devices, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) warned in its annual report released Tuesday.

Democracy in Crisis

Venezuelan police fire tear gas at opposition protest

10-03-2020 15:55 Some of the protesters responded by throwing stones at the police, while others fled the scene.

Venezuela in crisis

Anger as Maduro urges Venezuela's women to have six children

05-03-2020 14:05 Much-criticised president's comments come with his nation gripped by nation-wide food, clothes, and healthcare shortages.

US election 2020

Mainstream Democrats express relief at Biden presidential upsurge

04-03-2020 15:57 After a strong showing in South Carolina, especially among black voters, Joe Biden kept the momentum going through Super Tuesday.

Democracy in Middle East

Israeli exit polls: Netanyahu ahead, but short of majority

03-03-2020 10:31 Final outcome remains uncertain as third round of elections fails to produce a majority for either Netanyahu's Likud party or for Gantz's Blue and White party.

Democracy in Crisis

New research disputes claims of Bolivia election fraud

02-03-2020 15:24 MIT Election Data and Science Lab found no statistical evidence corroborating reports by the Organisation of American States (OAS) of election fraud in Bolivia's May elections.

Democracy in Crisis

16-year-old shot at Guaidó rally as tensions rise in Venezuela

02-03-2020 13:01 Guaidó, who is recognised as the rightful leader of Venezuela by 50 nations, escaped the incident unharmed.

Handover in Uruguay

Uruguay's Frente Amplio leaves office after 15 years of progressive rule

28-02-2020 16:36 Left-leaning coalition introduced a string of progressive measures – including marriage equality and the legalisation of marijuana – under president Tabaré Vázquez (2005-2010, 2015-2020) and José ‘Pepe’ Mujica (2010-2015).

HANDOVER POWER

Lacalle Pou to deliver Uruguay's first conservative government in 15 years

28-02-2020 14:35 The son of former Uruguayan president Luis Alberto Lacalle will take office on Sunday, ending 15 years of rule by the left-leaning Frente Amplio coalition.

BEEB IN ARGENTINA

BBC brings World Questions panel debate to Buenos Aires

28-02-2020 13:02 BBC and British Council partner up to host an interactive debate on Argentina's new government and the country's future. Learn how you can sign up for this free event.

Venezuela in Crisis

Venezuela National Assembly authorises Guaidó to use frozen funds

28-02-2020 11:54 Opposition-controlled legislature released the funds so that opposition leader, who is recognised by 50 countries as the troubled nation's interim president, can continue representing the country abroad.

Democracy in Crisis

Protests in Chile hit LatAm's biggest music festival

24-02-2020 09:48 Protesters, using rocks and molotov cocktails, engaged in clashes with the police during the Viña del Mar Music Festival in a demonstration against Chilean President Sebastián Piñera.

Crisis in Venezuela

UN study: 1 of every 3 Venezuelans is facing hunger

24-02-2020 09:33 The study found that a total of 9.3 million people are moderately or severely food insecure, as wages stay stagnant amid unprecedented hyperinflation.

Crisis in Venezuela

Lima Group urges world to help bring stability to Venezuela

21-02-2020 12:26 Foreign ministers seek international support for a return to democracy in Venezuela.

Morales in Exile

Bolivia's electoral tribunal denies barring Morales

19-02-2020 14:50 The MAS leader has been exiled in Argentina since December, where he has been planning his return to political life.

Geopolitical Chess

Ending Putin's support of Venezuela no easy feat for Washington

19-02-2020 13:54 For months, US officials have been warning foreign companies that they could face retaliation if they continue to do business with Maduro. Those admonishments have been aimed primarily at Russia and its oil trade with Venezuela.

Democracy in Crisis

Venezuela suspends airline after Guaidó's flight home

18-02-2020 11:25 Guaidó returned this week from an international tour seeking support to oust President Nicolas Maduro, violating a travel ban.

Democracy in Crisis

Denouncing US, Venezuelan troops, militias stage drills

17-02-2020 11:43 Amid rising tensions between the two nations, Maduro ordered civilians to take the streets for militia training.

Crisis in Venezuela

Energised Guaidó returns to Venezuela, vowing it's 'time to move forward'

12-02-2020 11:58 Venezuelan opposition laeder, who is recognised by over 50 countries as country's interim leader, returns from an international tour courting support from various heads of state, including US President Donald Trump, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, French President Emmanuel Macron, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

Democracy on Trial

Ecuador puts ex-president on trial for campaign finance fraud

10-02-2020 12:30 Former president Rafael Correa, who is currently living in Belgium, maintains that the lawsuit is an attempt to bar him from running for a legislative position in next year's elections.

Freedom of the Press

Brazil judge rejects hacking accusation against Greenwald

07-02-2020 11:22 A judge in Brasilia dismissed accusations that Glenn Greenwald was involved in hacking phones of Brazilian officials, following weeks of criticism that his prosecution would infringe on constitutional protections for journalists.

IMPEACHMENT ACQUITTAL

Trump celebrates impeachment victory lap over 'vicious' Democrats

06-02-2020 15:24 US president was impeached in the Democratic-led House last December, then the Senate, where Trump's Republicans hold a majority, cleared him Wednesday. The GOP candidate said he'd been "through hell" but we ended up "winning" against "vicious" Democrats.

Crisis in Venezuela

Venezuela rounds up US oil executives as Guaidó visits DC

06-02-2020 11:56 In a retaliatory move, the Maduro administration detained six American oil executives in Venezuela. Their whereabouts are unknown.

Venezuelan Crisis

Guaidó draws standing ovation at Trump speech

05-02-2020 12:44 The National Assembly leader recognized by 60 countries as the rightful president of Venezuela intends to return to Venezuela soon after courting support in his international tour.

Democracy in Crisis

Peru's Fujimori hospitalized for neurological and lung issues

04-02-2020 14:19 His last public statement came five days ago, when his daughter, Keiko Fujimori, was sentenced to 15 months in prison for corruption charges.

Bolivia Elections

Bolivia election campaign underway with Morales in exile

04-02-2020 12:34 Campaigning season has begun again in Bolivia. A cast of former presidents, including exiled Evo Morales, are gunning for power.

Crisis in Venezuela

Guaidó rallies Venezuelan expats in Miami at end of tour

03-02-2020 11:46 Guaidó, who is recognised as the rightful president of Venezuela by 60 countries, has spent the past two weeks rallying support from different heads of state.

Odebrecht Corruption

Peru court orders Keiko Fujimori to return to prison

30-01-2020 11:21 Citing new evidence and concern that opposition leader is a 'flight risk,' a judge ordered that she be preventatively detained for period of 15 months.

Crisis in Venezuela

Colombia seeks extradition of senator arrested in Venezuela

28-01-2020 15:12 Colombian Justice Ministry has little chance to return Aida Merlano to Colombia, given its recognition of Juan Guaidó as rightful head of state.

Peru Elections

No party emerging as clear winner in Peru congress elections

27-01-2020 11:38 Peruvians vote to elect 130 new members of congress that will legislate for only a year, after President Vizacarra dissolved its predecessor in September 2019.

MEDIA WARS

AT&T under pressure to defy Maduro's censors in Venezuela

20-01-2020 07:00 President Maduro’s opponents want AT&T’s DirecTV unit to restore half a dozen international news channels it was required to take off air by the Venezuelan government.

Court ruling

Peru court backs president's decision to dissolve Congress

15-01-2020 12:23 Nation's Constitutional Court backs President Vizcarra’s controversial 2019 decision to dissolve the nation’s legislature.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Brazil political documentary gets Oscar nomination, angering the right

14-01-2020 07:07 The Academy Award nomination for 'Edge of Democracy,' documentary about the impeachment of then-president Dilma Rousseff, has laid bare the polarisation of Latin America's largest democracy.

Bolivia Election Crisis

Bolivian senator says Evo Morales fell due to betrayals, errors

27-11-2019 16:34 Meanwhile, the interim government says it will charge the former president with 'sedition and treason,' and names the first ambassador to the United States in 11 years.

INTERVIEW

Ivan Briscoe: Bolivia’s new leaders must not reverse what Morales did

16-11-2019 12:13 The situation in Bolivia is changing at a rapid clip. Here are the biggest takeaways to keep in mind as things evolve, according to the regional director of the International Crisis Group NGO.

Neighbouring country

Fernández lends support to Martínez in Uruguay ahead of run-off

14-11-2019 19:17 The president-elect met with Uruguayan president, Tabaré Vázquez, in Montevideo. The two spoke about bilateral relations and recent events in Latin America.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Outrage in Brazil after Bolsonaro's son questions democracy

11-09-2019 14:33 Son of Brazilian far-right president posts on Twitter that "the transformation that Brazil wants will not happen at the speed we are aiming for in democratic ways." Dilma Rousseff, a former president and ex-rebel who was imprisoned and tortured during military rule, condemned the tweet.

AS I SEE IT

When turkeys keep voting for Christmas

24-08-2019 12:18 Democracy works well enough in countries in which most people understand that they share responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make.

by James Neilson

CRISIS IN VENEZUELA

Faurie: 'Dictatorship in Venezuela threatens regional security'

23-07-2019 16:08 Foreign minister offers a dire diagnosis of the situation in Venezuela at Lima Group meeting, as representatives from 16 nations in the region and the EU called for a democratic end to crisis.

ELECTIONS 2019: CAMPAIGN WATCH

Electoral slates in, time to go to the shrink

22-06-2019 10:29 More broadly, the political establishment would also need to explain why the country has to vote in a primary in August in which none of the presidential candidacies competing in.

by Marcelo J. Garcia

FROM WHERE I STAND

Honour can only come from doing your duty

17-11-2018 14:29 The FOPEA awards ceremony gave me an opportunity to emphasise a point I have been making for years. I believe that journalism is more than a profession, it is a vocation. It is a vocation because journalists have a duty to inform. I believe that they are also the guardians of the people and the defenders of democracy.

by Robert Cox