International
“Milei de Floripa”, the Brazilian candidate who joins the chainsaw trend
Ademar Rodrigues Meireles went down the stairs of his house rented for a few days in São Paulo completely dressed as if he were the Argentine president, Javier Milei, and, at times, his way of expressing himself was identical, even speaking in another language.
Better known as the ‘Milei de Floripa’, Ademar is a candidate for municipal councilor for the Liberal Party (PL) of former Brazilian president Jair Bolsonaro in Florianópolis, capital of the state of Santa Catarina, in the elections of October 6.
A place of almost 8 million inhabitants in the south of the country that shares the border with the Argentine province of Misiones and, as the politician indicated, “is full of Argentines.”
The first time he saw the Argentine economist he was shocked by his “theatrical and dramatic figure”, then one day he decided to wear his wig and noticed that his image caused a furor in the streets and people stopped him to take pictures.
That’s how he began to attend all the demonstrations personified as Javier Milei, adding a garment for the occasion: first his wig, then his characteristic sideburns, a chainsaw with phrases and even the presidential band with the Albiceleste flag.
Laughing and with a Buenos Aires tone he said “there is no water” – referring to the famous “there is no money” – and looked at one of his advisors as a sign of complaint. He wanted to conduct the entire interview in Spanish since he considered that this way he “transmitted greater emotion.”
Ademar decided, before retiring, to throw himself fully into politics. According to him, to defend “the ideas of freedom” and fight a cultural, social and political “war” that is being lived in the world.
“It is necessary that we make the decision to be in all places as the left has done that for many, many years was taking the university, the culture, the artists (…) One thing is certain: those who are not in politics are dominated by those who are,” he said.
But his clothing, criticized by many people, hides a greater meaning: “In my private life I am Ademar, for me that is very clear. But this is a theater, a political theater. All politicians do theater. Politicians in elections pretend to be poor but they are not.”
And he continued: “It’s a cultural war, I’m dressed in the ideas and what Milei represents, like an icon, like an idol of the right. (…) We are going to use the same weapon that the left uses, which is art.”
Like his political idol, the Brazilian is an economist and said that he has two dogs, although he only highlighted his Rottweiler whom he referred to as “the guardian” of the hacienda.
With his chainsaw next to it, which has the inscription in Spanish ‘cut of expenses’ on one side, the ‘cosplayer’ candidate said that “Brazilian social contracts are broken” and raised the need for a new “liberating” constitution in Brazil since the current “has been very disrespectful.”
Last Friday, for an hour, Paulista Avenue, the most important in São Paulo, collapsed with cars and vans plotted with his face in a caravan celebrating his arrival in the city, where he went to participate in a demonstration called by Bolsonaro a day later.
Some passers-by laughed when they saw him, others threw an insult, while many greeted him fervently shouting “long live freedom, fuck.”
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
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Extension of the state of emergency approved in southern Chile
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