América Latina & Caribe

Thoughts on these guys? I don't know what is going on in Chile lately. Hype me up if possible

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The Chilean left chooses communist Jeannette Jara to challenge the unstoppable right wing for the presidential election in November.

The Chilean left has chosen this Sunday the candidate who will represent them in the first round of the presidential elections on November 16th against the relentlessly advancing right: Jeannette Jara, 51, a member of the Communist Party. With 77.5% of the votes counted, the public administrator, lawyer, and master's degree holder in public management obtained a resounding 60.5%, compared to the social democrat Carolina Tohá, who reached 27.6%. The representative of Gabriel Boric's Broad Front, Representative Gonzalo Winter, came in third with 8.9%, while Congressman Jaime Mulet, of the Green Social Regionalist Federation (FRVS), came in last with 2.9%. Jara's election marks a milestone for the Chilean Communist Party: it is the first time since the return to democracy in 1990 that this political force, which opposed the center-left governments of the transition, has successfully installed a candidate from its ranks in the race for La Moneda, supported—at least institutionally—by the entire party. The result of this primary, in turn, represents a major blow to the moderate forces of progressivism—embodied by Tohá in this internal competition—who are once again subjugated to the radical sectors of the left.

The unity of the left will be a major test starting tonight. The campaign has intensified in recent weeks, and the fundamental differences have been exposed to the public, especially between Tohá—who began the race as the favorite—and the winning candidate. “Where [the Communist Party] has governed around the world, countries have stagnated socially and poverty has spread,” the 60-year-old social democratic political scientist charged in one of the debates. Both former ministers in Boric's government—Tohá of the Interior and Jara of Labor—showed that they embody very different perspectives on the role of the left in 2025 and the needs of a country like Chile, which has stagnated economically for more than a decade and faces urgent challenges such as the security crisis. In this campaign, both sides highlighted fundamental differences regarding the coexistence of the state and the market, economic growth, crime management, foreign relations, and the control of illegal immigration, among other issues.

"The important thing is that, at the end of the day, the progressive sectors will all be united behind a single candidacy," President Boric stated this morning, addressing a concern across the political spectrum: whether, given the vast gaps between the official proposals and the heated competition, the result will generate dispersion and whether the winner—Jara—will actually have a torrent of political power to confront a right wing that has the winds in its favor. The opposition, in fact, benefits from the fact that the communist militant was chosen. This is especially beneficial for Matthei, who, with Tohá out of the running, will try to win over the moderate sectors of the center and center-left who are unwilling to support a candidate from the radical left.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/40960681

Mexico City (AFP) – Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum on Wednesday threatened legal action over falling debris and contamination from billionaire Elon Musk's SpaceX rocket launches across the border in the United States.

Mexico's government was studying which international laws were being violated in order to file "the necessary lawsuits" because "there is indeed contamination," Sheinbaum told her morning news conference.

Last week, a SpaceX Starship rocket exploded during a routine ground test at the Starbase headquarters of Musk's space project on the south Texas coast near the Mexican border.

The explosion -- which sent a towering fireball into the air -- was the latest setback to Musk's dream of sending humans to Mars.

Mexican officials are carrying out a "comprehensive review" of the environmental impacts of the rocket launches for the neighboring state of Tamaulipas, Sheinbaum said.

The US Federal Aviation Administration approved an increase in annual Starship rocket launches from five to 25 in early May, stating that the increased frequency would not adversely affect the environment.

The decision overruled objections from conservation groups that had warned the expansion could endanger sea turtles and shorebirds.

A lawsuit would be the latest legal tussle between Mexico and a US corporate giant.

In May, Sheinbaum's government said it had sued Google for renaming the Gulf of Mexico the "Gulf of America" for Google Maps users in the United States following an executive order by President Donald Trump.

linky

You would not believe the insane stories that rightists have invented about Kirchner, who is a moderate.

Bananas and Panama: a bond shaken by layoffs

Bananas aren’t just a tropical treat—they’re a vital part of Panama’s economy. In fact, bananas rank among the country’s top five export products. But now, this crucial sector is facing an unprecedented crisis. Chiquita’s Panamanian subsidiary has declared its intention to let go of more than 1,600 workers, following weeks of tension and turmoil (source).

Earlier in May, Chiquita had already revealed plans to dismiss roughly 4,900 employees because of ongoing labor disputes. These aren’t just numbers; they represent families, communities, and an entire way of life in Panama’s lush Caribbean province of Bocas del Toro.

The root of the conflict lies in a fierce battle over pension reform. On April 28, workers on the banana plantations went on strike, voicing their anger over new laws passed by Panama’s Congress. Their unions argue that the reforms would mean weaker retirement benefits and poorer healthcare coverage for those who spend their lives harvesting bananas under the sun.

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Venezuelans return to the polls on Sunday, May 25, to elect a new National Assembly, governors for 24 states, and regional legislative councils. This is the 32nd electoral event under the Bolivarian Revolution.

Our guide offers an overview of the process, the parties and candidates running, and some races to watch.

Overview, facts and figures

With their respective terms ending on January 5, 2026, the Venezuelan Constitution determines that a new National Assembly (AN) and regional authorities must be chosen this year. The unusually early date leaves room for other elections later in the year, including municipal contests and a potential constitutional reform.

Voters will elect 285 deputies for five-year terms. This includes 3 indigenous representatives, 50 national list parliamentarians, and 232 from states. Out of these, 133 will be elected via first-past-the-post systems in electoral circumscriptions, while the other 99 will come from regional lists.

In addition, the electorate will also pick governors for the 24 states and 260 members of regional legislative councils. Regional officials serve four-year terms.

According to Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE), 21.5 million citizens are eligible to vote. The electoral authority will set up 27,713 voting booths in 15,736 polling stations across the country.

Who is on the ballot?

A total of 36 national political parties feature on the ballot alongside 10 regional ones and 6 indigenous organizations.

The Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) groups the ruling United Socialist Party (PSUV) and 12 allied organizations. It ran a hybrid process combining grassroots assemblies and leadership decisions to fill out its candidate lists.

Opposing the PSUV-led alliance is an assortment of center-right to right-wing outfits split into three main camps. The Democratic Alliance (AD) brings together 10 minor parties that originally broke with the US-backed opposition in 2019. A New Era (UNT) is the last holdover from the opposition’s Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) that won the 2015 legislative elections, and counts on allies such as newly-formed Unión y Cambio. Finally, the Lápiz alliance ruled out joining forces with other anti-government groups in order to instead field its own lists.

At the same time, far-right factions led by María Corina Machado have called for a boycott of the upcoming vote. The US-aligned sectors have maintained all their focus on their claim of victory in the July 28, 2024, elections that saw President Nicolás Maduro secure a third term in office. Opposition leaders have traded accusations of playing to the government’s agenda in what has become a familiar debate over whether or not to boycott the vote.

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Tensions between teachers from the National Coordinator of Education Workers (CNTE) and the government have reached a critical point. After a week of protests, including the blockade of Mexico City's main thoroughfares and the closure of access to the National Palace prior to President Claudia Sheinbaum's morning press conference, the teachers' union remains steadfast in demanding the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law. Meanwhile, authorities have limited themselves to describing this reform implemented by Felipe Calderón as an "injustice." However, they maintain that there is insufficient funding to completely reverse it or implement a new pension system under the conditions demanded by the CNTE.

Why are the CNTE teachers protesting?

The teachers' union's main demand is the repeal of the 2007 ISSSTE Law, which replaced the solidarity pension system with one of individual accounts managed by Afores (Afores). According to workers, this provision negatively affects their pensions, as it requires them to be calculated from their individual savings funds. This amount also depends on the current UMA (Unit of Measurement and Update) and not the minimum wage, as they demand.

Another point limiting the negotiations is the demand to restore the possibility of retirement based on years of service, which was previously 28 for women and 30 for men. Under the current system, retirement is determined by age, but the age limit of 56 or 58 does not benefit those who joined ISSSTE after 2007. Additionally, a 100% salary increase is being demanded.

What has the government offered?

In her Teachers' Day message, Sheinbaum announced a 9% salary increase retroactive to January, with an additional 1% starting in September, representing an additional annual budget of 36 billion pesos. Likewise, an additional week of vacation will be added to the next school year, which now begins on September 1, 2025, for elementary school students.

The president also spoke about her campaign promise to eliminate the Unit of the System for the Career of Teachers (USICAMM). So far, it has not been decided how the functions of the administrative body that coordinates the Open and Transparent System for the Allocation of Teacher Positions will be replaced, but in the meantime, a decree will be signed to change the mobility process for teachers affected by these restrictions. “All work center changes will be carried out in person and by educational level to ensure transparency. Furthermore, the only element that will be taken into account is length of service, thereby recognizing the time and dedication of our teachers to public education in Mexico. This is an act of justice; those with the most years of service have the most rights,” Sheinbaum said.

A few weeks ago, when the controversial initiative to reform the ISSSTE Law was finally withdrawn, the government proposed reviving one of its key points: freezing the minimum retirement age for teachers—and other state employees—setting it at 56 for women and 58 for men.

How the Negotiations Are Going

So far, the CNTE teachers have met with officials from the Ministry of the Interior, Education, and the ISSSTE (National Institute of Statistics and Census), but the talks have not yielded satisfactory results. "They wanted to repeat the same thing they've already told us, and we said we didn't agree, that a different response was necessary," said Pedro Hernández, sector spokesperson for the Coordinator. However, it has been agreed that on Friday, May 23, they will be personally received by President Sheinbaum, who has remained faithful to her strategy of keeping a cool head. "We will not fall for any provocation. We will not repress, because we don't believe in that. We believe in dialogue, and we will find a way out," she said during her morning press conference.

No valen la bala que los ajusticia

Btw all the fascists are of the comprador kind, of course.

Groups of peasants, coca growers, miners, and MAS legislators are mobilizing from Parotani toward La Paz to register Evo Morales’ presidential candidacy despite the recent ban issued by the Constitutional Court.

This Wednesday in Parotani-approximately 40 kilometers from Cochabamba-delegations of peasants, coca producers, and miners who support former president Evo Morales gathered. From there, they began a land journey toward La Paz with the intention of formally submitting Morales’ presidential candidacy to the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), despite the recent disqualification issued by the Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP).

The march includes senators, deputies, councilors, and union leaders affiliated with the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS). The group is heading toward the headquarters of the Executive, Legislative, and Electoral branches in the country’s capital.

Police Presence and Leaders’ Statements

Although Morales was not present at the start of the mobilization, participants expressed concern over the significant presence of riot police in the area. However, security forces did not intervene to stop the march. Peasant leader Juanita Ancieta stated that the goal is to enter La Paz this Friday “with a large march,” led by Morales, whom she described as “the only candidate who represents the majority.”

"The current Bolivian Political Constitution does not prohibit discontinuous reelection. Article 168 of our Constitution establishes: “The term of office of the President and Vice President of the State is five years, and they may be reelected ONLY ONCE CONTINUOUSLY.” The Plurinational Constitutional Court (TCP), with a majority of de facto judges (illegally self-prolonged), through Sentence 007/2025, establishes that no Bolivian citizen can be re-elected continuously or discontinuously, violating Art. 168 of the CPE, which only prohibits CONTINUOUS re-election." - Evo Morales on Twitter

Senator Leonardo Loza affirmed that Morales will join the caravan discreetly to avoid possible arrest. “Evo is with this caravan, protected by the people. We will not reveal his location or whether he takes alternate routes, but he is present,” he said.

The TCP issued a ruling that bars Morales from running for president, arguing that presidential reelection-whether continuous or interrupted-is unconstitutional. In response, Morales stated on his X account that the Political Constitution of the State does not prohibit discontinuous reelection, citing Article 168, which establishes a five-year presidential term with the possibility of one continuous reelection.

In June 2023, at an event at La Moneda Palace, President Gabriel Boric presented an eight-member team, made up of representatives from indigenous communities and the political, business, and academic spheres. “I am hopeful, convinced, that through broad social dialogue, the foundations will be laid for a lasting and sustainable solution to a long-standing conflict,” the president said on that occasion.

After nearly two years of voluntary work, the commissioners reached a 22-point agreement by a large majority that proposes the return of lands to the communities, an end to violence, institutional improvements, and economic development in the Southern Macrozone.

One of the commission’s commitments includes the return of more than 240,000 hectares to indigenous peoples as territorial reparations, as revealed by the newspaper El Siglo.

While the commission’s executive secretary and several politicians considered the agreement historic, representatives of the right and far right have already spoken out against it, particularly regarding the return of lands. Opposition legislators have even announced their possible rejection in Congress.

The Arauco Malleco Coordinator (CAM) published a statement saying that as long as militarization and Mapuche political prisoners exist, it is not even possible to initiate dialogues that would lead to agreements.

Although the Mapuche people have been victims of dispossession since the Spanish conquest, the most recent conflict began in 1850 when the state and the oligarchy invaded their territories south of the Biobío River, reduced their holdings, and granted them land titles. Despite this, the occupation continued in the following years. In the 20th century, especially during the dictatorship of Augusto Pinochet (1973-1990), many of these lands were granted to European settlers, primarily Germans, Swiss, and Austrians, as well as Chileans.

2nd cold war between Maoist United Soviets of America vs Stalinist Mexico-Brazil-Chile Pact(M-L)

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