U.N. panel criticizes Venezuela elections
Aug. 14, 2024
Regional
The new right that has emerged as an increasingly important player in Latin American politics prioritizes cultural issues over economic ones, “with which it seeks to mobilize not only affluent segments of society, but also popular sectors that profess conservative ideas on moral issues,” writes Cristóbal Rovira Kaltwasser in Nueva Sociedad. There are evident similarities with far-right movements elsewhere in the world: “since these are political forces that not only adopt quite radical right-wing positions (especially on socio-cultural issues), but also maintain a conflictive relationship with the democratic system, particularly with the liberal scaffolding of democracy.”
Venezuela
A U.N. panel of electoral experts said in a new report that Venezuela’s national electoral authority fell short of following through on basic “transparency and integrity measures that are essential to holding credible elections.” The report was not initially expected to be public, and adds to independent assessments discrediting Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s claim to have won reelection in July’s vote. (Washington Post, El País)
Venezuela’s military leadership has closed ranks with Maduro in the wake of the contested election — their interests are aligned with the government’s, complicating hopes of a schism, reports El País.
“Maduro’s refusal to quit – despite growing international consensus that the recent election was stolen – throws up a complex and troubling question for a country already reeling from one of modern history’s worst peacetime economic and humanitarian meltdowns: what next?” reports the Guardian.
The Venezuelan electoral crisis has created a historic moment of opportunity for diplomatic efforts led by Brazil, Colombia and Mexico, writes David Smilde in Boom. “The three presidents need to make clear to the Maduro government that its legitimacy is at an all-time low and that continuing to deny the election result will only exacerbate its governance crisis and further its diplomatic isolation. The government needs to negotiate a way forward with the opposition and seize the opportunity provided by the different actors willing to facilitate a solution.”
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s chief diplomatic advisor, Celso Amorim, suggested new elections in Venezuela as a way out of the current impasse, reports El País. (O Globo)
Yesterday Venezuela’s government controlled National Assembly started considering a package of laws that would tighten regulations on the registration and funding of non-governmental organizations. Other measures seek to increase government oversight over social media and to punish "fascism,” reports AFP.
The government is also considering prohibiting international monitoring of elections, reports El País.
Haiti
The head of the Kenyan support mission in Haiti is refuting allegations that his forces had to be rescued by Haitian police after armed gangs fired on them during a recent joint operation in Ganthier. The statements come as frustrations mount with the Kenyan-led international security mission, crystalized in the Ganthier episode, reports the Miami Herald.
At least five Haitian children have been killed or injured a week so far in 2024, charity Save the Children said yesterday, urging the United Nations and security forces to do more to protect kids from crossfire and gang violence. (Reuters)
Colombian President Gustavo Petro hoped to visit Haiti this week, but Haitian authorities said the security conditions make such a visit unfeasible at the moment, reports the Miami Herald.
Mexico
Reporter Reyna Ramírez told Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador that his supporters had harassed her when she was trying to cover an event in June — she said his polarization of Mexican society has put journalists at risk. (Associated Press)
Meet “Los Chapitos,” the sons of Joaquín “El Chapo” Guzmán who followed his footsteps in the Sinaloa Cartel — InSight Crime.
Mexican president-elect Claudia Sheinbaum said authorities must undertake a stronger strategy against crimes of extortion, and support victims to make reports. (La Jornada)
A group of federal judges asked Sheinbaum and lawmakers to stop considering a judicial reform bill, expected to pass in September, reports Animal Político.
Regional Relations
Argentine President Javier Milei will travel to Mexico to participate in Mexico’s CPAC conference, but AMLO said he would not meet with his counterpart. (Animal Político)
Lula met with Argentina’s Buenos Aires province governor, Peronist Axel Kicillof in Brasília. It is a pointed message after Milei travelled to Brazil to meet with Lula’s political rival, former president Jair Bolsonaro, and participate in a far-right conference reports El País.
Brazil
Brazil’s most powerful criminal organization, the First Capital Command (PCC), increasingly uses technology to coordinate drug trafficking, run scams, and evade capture. “Most property crimes, such as robbery, and violent crimes, like homicide, have fallen in Brazil, but virtual scams continue to grow unabated, targeting an increasingly digitized society,” reports InSight Crime.
Colombia
Air pollution is causing epigenetic changes in Bogotá residents, reports El País.
Argentina
One million children go to bed hungry every day in Argentina, according to a new study by Unicef. This year 70 percent of the country’s children live in poverty, and 30 percent are in conditions of extreme poverty. (Página 12)
In the midst of Argentina’s economic crisis, environmental concerns over lithium extraction take a backseat to more immediate needs, reports AFP.