Americas – December 8, 2018

Americas – December 8, 2018

December 8, 2018

Each day, 21votes gathers election and political news from a different region of the world. Saturdays we explore the Americas.

Venezuela

Venezuela holds elections for 2,459 local council seats this weekend in the midst of a crushing economic crisis marked by out-of-control inflation and shortages of food and medicine. President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party is expected to win the elections due to a massive crackdown on the opposition, and the fact that much of the opposition plans to boycott the elections. Voters are largely apathetic. 

Peru

Bloomberg reports: “In eight months, Peru’s Martin Vizcarra has gone from being a little-known caretaker president to the standard-bearer of an anti-corruption movement that has devoured some of the Andean nation’s most powerful figures.” Tomorrow, Peru holds a referendum on constitutional changes.

Bolivia

Associated Press reports: “Bolivia’s top electoral court has accepted President Evo Morales’ candidacy for a fourth term in office despite a constitutional ban and referendum against such a re-election….The opposition accused the government of interfering with the court system and said it set a bad precedent for democracy.” The move could cost him support among his base, particularly within the indigenous community.

Brazil

Brazilian academic Luca Belli examines how misinformation spread through WhatsApp affected Brazil’s election results.

Mexico

Council on Foreign Relations vice president Shannon K. O’Neill on the threats new Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador could pose to the country’s institutions.

Ecuador

Ecuador’s vice president has resigned, the second vice-presidential resignation since President Lenin Moreno took office in 2017.

Upcoming Elections in the News
Venezuela Local – December 9, 2018
Venezuela holds elections for 2,459 local council seats this weekend in the midst of a crushing economic crisis marked by out-of-control inflation and shortages of food and medicine. President Nicolas Maduro’s ruling socialist party is expected to win the elections due to a massive crackdown on the opposition, and the fact that much of the opposition plans to boycott the elections. Voters are largely apathetic. 

Peru Referendum – December 9, 2018
Bloomberg reports: “In eight months, Peru’s Martin Vizcarra has gone from being a little-known caretaker president to the standard-bearer of an anti-corruption movement that has devoured some of the Andean nation’s most powerful figures.” Tomorrow, Peru holds a referendum on constitutional changes.

Bolivia
Associated Press reports: “Bolivia’s top electoral court has accepted President Evo Morales’ candidacy for a fourth term in office despite a constitutional ban and referendum against such a re-election….The opposition accused the government of interfering with the court system and said it set a bad precedent for democracy.” The move could cost him support among his base, particularly within the indigenous community.

Recent Elections in the News
Brazil
Brazilian academic Luca Belli examines how misinformation spread through WhatsApp affected Brazil’s election results.

Mexico
Council on Foreign Relations vice president Shannon K. O’Neill on the threats new Mexican president Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador could pose to the country’s institutions.

Other Regional News and Views
Ecuador
Ecuador’s vice president has resigned, the second vice-presidential resignation since President Lenin Moreno took office in 2017.

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