News of democracy

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

AS I SEE IT

Cambridge Analytica rules the world, OK?

31-03-2018 10:49 A considerable number of influential men and women have come to the conclusion that both Brexit and Trump lack legitimacy.

by James Neilson