Guatemalan Constitutional Court suspends order banning Arevalo’s party
July 14, 2023
In the latest update regarding Guatemala’s electoral controversies, the country’s Constitutional Court “suspended an order barring the party of anti-graft candidate Bernardo Arevalo from running for the presidency, after a flood of international criticism that the country's democracy was in jeopardy,” reports Reuters (see yesterday’s LADB). Representative Sandra Torres, set to be Arevalo’s competition in the runoff election and described by analysts as the candidate of the status quo, has announced that she would suspend her political campaign until the situation with the Semilla Movement participation in the elections has been confirmed, notes Prensa Libre. She also called for the second round to move ahead as planned on August 20 and expressed solidarity with all Guatemalans who voted on June 25, including Semilla voters. “Arevalo warned that if Guatemala suffers a "loss of democracy" economic conditions in the country would further deteriorate and "increase the push for people to go to the United States,"” reports USA Today.
“Semilla’s suspension—through the PM and the courts—illustrates the primary mechanisms of control wielded by the political and economic elites and organized crime figures who oppose change,” says Claudia Méndez Arriaza in Americas Quarterly. “Instead of vesting power in a single head of state, this alliance of illicit interests has focused on exercising control in law enforcement, the courts and Congress, creating a unique brand of authoritarianism that is less personalistic than systemic.”
Mexico
A new initiative by the Wilson Center’s Mexico Institute “brings together major voices to 1) raise awareness, 2) explore the driving factors and enabling environment, and 3) outline action items – both for government and for civil society – that could help reduce and ultimately eradicate femicide in Mexico.”
Brazil
According to Brazilian federal police, Operation Vanglória was an illegal scheme that laundered more than R$80 million (US$16.4 million) of illegally mined gold. OCCRP reports that the police have announced an investigation into the operation following the identification of a Guyanese businessman whose activities seemed to not be above board.
Regional
“Almost all research on long Covid has focused on richer countries, there is little sense of the scale and nature of the health burden in such places – nor is there awareness and support for those suffering from it,” says the Guardian, noting the disparity among long Covid-19 treatment and awareness for those in the Global South.
“One of Latin America’s main successes over the last 200 years is its relative peace when it comes to the number of interstate wars,” writes Juan Gabriel Tokatlian at Americas Quarterly, arguing that the region’s unique perspective has something to offer in relation to peace between Russia and Ukraine.
“The United Nations’ top court on Thursday rejected a case brought by Nicaragua in a decades-long dispute with Colombia over maritime borders and entitlements in the Caribbean,” reports AP.
Argentina
“The Unión por la Patria (UP) ruling coalition is hoping Massa post-PASO will be able to rally the more militant “K” or “Kirchnerista” votes, many of whom are currently intending to vote for leftist leader Juan Grabois who broke away from the coalition’s unity plan and is running for president on his own terms,” writes Arianna in Road to the Casa Rosada.
“The government in Buenos Aires on Sunday inaugurated a pipeline connecting a massive shale gas deposit in central-western Argentina to consumers in the province of Buenos Aires, which relies on imported liquefied natural gas from abroad for part of the year. The government said it expects the pipeline from the oil and gas field—named Vaca Muerta, or Dead Cow—to save Argentina $1.7 billion in imports this year,” writes Catherine Osborn at the Latin America Brief, adding, “Though drilling and fracking at Vaca Muerta has sparked environmental and Indigenous protests in Argentina over the years, no major presidential candidate today opposes those activities.”
Inflation, which reached 115.6% in June, is a main topic of debate amongst candidates ahead of the August PASO primary elections, according to El País.
Photos of Argentine superstar Lionel Messi grocery shopping in a Florida supermarket made waves ahead of his presentation as a new Inter Miami FC player this upcoming Sunday, says Infobae.
Caribbean
Trinidad and Tobago has confirmed two cases of monkeypox, with other Caribbean nations also closely monitoring the situation. (Loop, Loop)
Panama
“The United States has banned former Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela Rodriguez from entering the U.S. for his "involvement in significant corruption,"” reports Reuters.
Venezuela
“The sudden suspension of a Venezuelan contract that had boosted its exports of petroleum coke has led to a bottleneck of vessels waiting to load and sent customers scrambling for alternative supplies,” reports Reuters.