International
Political parties in Bolivia ask the Legislature to suspend the primary elections
The political parties of Bolivia determined this Wednesday, after a meeting, to ask the Legislator to evaluate whether it is pertinent to hold the primary elections of presidential candidates for the 2025 elections, given the priority of the postponed judicial elections being held this year.
“The attendees unanimously ask the Plurinational Legislative Assembly to approve a law that suspends the primary elections for the 2024 administration,” says part of the “declaration for democracy,” which was signed by the majority of the representatives of political organizations.
The representatives of the opposition parties and the Executive endorsed the proposal of the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE), with the exception of the former president and leader of the ruling Movement to Socialism (MAS) Evo Morales (2006-2019), who did not sign the joint statement and withdrew before the press conference.
The meeting was convened by the Electoral entity, and had the participation of representatives of 11 parties and two political alliances, as well as delegates from the Executive and Legislative to guide the route to the 2025 general elections in the Andean country.
On Tuesday, the TSE had already proposed that the primary elections for presidential candidates be suspended, arguing that the judicial elections, also planned, should not be contaminated with political issues.
The judicial elections that were to be held in 2023 were suspended due to obstacles in the Legislature, and the magistrates extended their mandate, an action that generated controversy and discontent in various sectors of Bolivia.
The president of the TSE, Óscar Hassenteufel, added that the Electoral Body will be in charge of presenting a bill for the suspension of the primary elections.
In addition, they asked the Legislature to resume an analysis of the progressive implementation of the primaries “to promote internal democracy in political organizations.”
The Minister of the Presidency, María Nela Prada, representing the Government, said in her speech that it is important that the judicial elections be held. “We want judicial elections and real transformation of justice,” he said.
Prada pointed out that the holding of primary elections would not be relevant, taking into account that the previous ones, carried out in 2019, cost the Bolivian State 25 million Bolivians (3.6 million dollars) without giving the “expected results.”
The meeting was attended by the leaders of the two opposition political alliances, former President Carlos Mesa, of Comunidad Ciudadana (CC), and Zvonko Matković, on behalf of Creemos. Its main leader is the suspended governor of Santa Cruz, Luis Fernando Camacho, who is imprisoned.
The presidents of the Chamber of Senators, Andrónico Rodríguez, and of the Chamber of Deputies, Israel Huaytari, also attended.
The other political leaders who signed the declaration for democracy are Jhonny Fernández, mayor of the eastern region of Santa Cruz and representative of UCS; Felix Patzi, of the Third System Movement, and Elizabeth Reyes, of National Unity.
The representatives of the Social Democratic Movement (MDS), the Revolutionary Nationalist Movement (MNR), the Bolivian National Action Party (Pan-Bol), the Nationalist Democratic Action (ADN) and the Christian Democratic Party.
The leaders and representatives of the political organizations reaffirmed their commitment and democratic rights for the holding of the presidential elections in 2025 on the established terms and deadlines.
In addition, it is a priority for those attending the meeting to hold the judicial elections, “in order to renew the judicial authorities within the constitutional and legal framework in force in the country.”
The TSE committed to guaranteeing “the widest transparency in the consolidation and reliability of the biometric electoral register for the general elections.”
In addition, the Electoral Body will progressively implement a system of dissemination of preliminary results in future electoral processes.
Finally, they emphasized that the TSE must exercise its powers without the interference of another organ of the Bolivian State.
International
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Ecuador’s Armed Forces carried out an operation on Monday — including airstrikes — against illegal mining in the town of Buenos Aires, in the country’s north, Defense Minister Gian Carlo Loffredo reported.
The mountainous, gold-rich area has been a hotspot for illegal mining since 2017, located in the Andean province of Imbabura.
In 2019, former president Lenín Moreno deployed around 2,400 soldiers to the region in an attempt to curb the illegal activity. “The operation began with mortar fire, followed by gunfire and bombing runs by Supertucano aircraft,” Loffredo said in a video released by the Defense Ministry.
He added that the operation would continue on Tuesday with patrols across the area to locate possible members of “irregular armed groups that may have crossed from the Colombian border.”
The Armed Forces stated on X that the intervention focused on the “complete elimination of multiple illegal mining tunnels” in the areas known as Mina Nueva and Mina Vieja.
The operation coincided with the deployment of a military and police convoy into Imbabura, which has been the epicenter of protests against President Daniel Noboa since September 22, following his decision to scrap the diesel subsidy.
International
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Venezuela has announced the closure of its embassy in Norway, just days after opposition leader María Corina Machado was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said the Venezuelan diplomatic mission provided no explanation for its decision on Monday.
“It is regrettable,” a ministry spokesperson said. “Despite our differences on several issues, Norway wishes to keep the dialogue with Venezuela open and will continue to work in that direction.” The ministry also emphasized that the Nobel Committee operates entirely independently from the Norwegian government.
In its announcement, the Nobel Committee stated that Machado met the criteria established by Alfred Nobel, “embodying the hope for a different future, where the fundamental rights of Venezuelans are heard.”
International
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Thousands of military personnel and civilians in Mexico worked tirelessly on Tuesday to clear roads blocked by the torrential rains of recent days, which have left more than 300 communities cut off across central and eastern regions of the country. Authorities also launched mass fumigation efforts in several affected areas to prevent the spread of dengue fever.
The official death toll remains at 64, though dozens of people are still missing. President Claudia Sheinbaumacknowledged that the government does not yet know the full situation in many of the isolated villages, which range in population from 500 to 1,000 inhabitants.
“The reopening of roads is one of the greatest urgencies,” Sheinbaum said. “It’s essential to guarantee air bridges, food supplies, clean water, and a proper census of the isolated communities so we can determine the condition of every person living there.”
Private construction companies are also assisting the effort with heavy machinery and technical support to help reopen highways and reconnect rural areas.
Armed forces target illegal mines in Northern Ecuador with bombing raids
Caracas shuts embassy in Oslo without explanation following Machado’s Nobel win
Sheinbaum: Urgent to restore access to towns cut off by heavy rains
Tec de Monterrey honors one of its students for his contribution to nanotechnology in medicine
Defense Minister commends salvadoran soldier for Central American Cross Country victory
Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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