Posted in Latin America

Once he’s through with Venezuela, Corbyn must denounce your mum, continental breakfasts and boring rock bands

Demands for political opponents to undertake humiliating self-criticism before a mass audience seemingly fell out of favour roughly about the time the Chinese Communist Party wound up the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution.

But fashions are always cyclical. Since 2015, a wonderfully nostalgic Labour right has gleefully nicked this page from the Maoist playbook, in the form of the popular parlour game they call ‘Corbyn must denounce …’

The rules are quite simple. All you do is set your liberal commentator buddy up with a couple of quotes from a scorned backbencher, anonymously if need be. The rightwing press will take it from there. Continue reading →

What are Trump’s real reasons for sanctions against Venezuela?

This week, the U.S. announced it will impose sanctions directly on Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro. The sanctions mean Maduro’s assets subject to U.S. jurisdiction are now frozen and people from the U.S. are prohibited from dealing with the head of state and are part of a widening of sanctions against Venezuela. Additionally, Secretary of State Rex Tillerson made clear his wish for ‘regime change,’ and last week the CIA’s chief admitted they were working in this direction.

These are not the Trump administration’s first attempt to hit the Venezuelan government using sanctions. In February, the Treasury Department also introduced sanctions on the Venezuelan Vice President and in July they extended existing economic sanctions against the country. Continue reading →

Brazil – In Solidarity with Lula, Against the Coup and Neo-liberalism 

320px-Lula_-_foto_oficial05012007_editOver the last year Brazil has been in the depths of the most scandalous political crisis in recent history. Despite the controversy surrounding the country, the international coverage of the fifth-biggest country in the world has at times felt non-existent.

Last year, just 62 senators overturned the votes of more than 50 million Brazilians in a “soft coup”, bringing to an end 13 years of democratically elected Workers’ Party presidents. Using public anger at the corruption of others, President Dilma Rousseff was impeached under dubious circumstances for budgetary manoeuvres which have been commonplace under previous Presidents, in both Brazil and the US.  Continue reading →

Ecuador: Social Progress & Tax Justice Face Right-Wing Reaction & US Intervention

Rafael_Correa_in_France_(cropped)Ten years ago President Rafael Correa was elected President in Ecuador and, as in many Latin American countries in recent years, there’s been a tremendous shift in the country. He has remained enormously popular throughout his time in office, winning his last two elections in the first round, winning the most recent vote by some 30 points. Now on February 19 the country is holding votes for a new president, the national assembly and a pioneering referendum on the scandal of tax havens.

As we go to press, the progressive candidate Lenin Moreno is leading in opinion polls, although there is great concern at the level of US intervention into the country and media misrepresentation that are no doubt seeking to bring the country back into the US’s orbit. It is incredible to think that in Ecuador’s process of progressive change (known as the citizens’ revolution) – at a time when we are constantly told about the inevitability of cuts and austerity – spending in Ecuador on healthcare and education has doubled. Continue reading →

Brazil: Temer’s Terrible Ten Policies

michel_temer_images_newsThe last six months in Brazil have seen an immense upheaval of society since the removal of Dilma Rousseff. A spiralling corruption investigation, controversial impeachment, mass protests, growing strikes and an Olympic games held in Rio in the backdrop of an economic recession have led to a tumultuous year.

Anger is running high at the newly appointed President. Many are claiming he is acting without a mandate and are calling for new elections to take place, a measure Dilma strongly advocated whilst the impeachment was raging on.  Continue reading →