On Monday, the 65-member Brazilian special committee voted 38 to 27 in favor of the impeachment of President Dilma Rousseff, as the political crisis is increasing. Rousseff is accused of breaking budget laws by manipulating the government account back in 2014 in order to make her government’s economic achievements appear better, and to ensure her re-election at the time. Moreover, Dilma’s mandate has been surrounded by a vast corruption scandal and a growing recession. As an answer to the allegations, the President's supporters replay that there are no valid grounds for introducing the impeachment motion and claim that this procedure is a political strategy in order to remove the President from office.
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The elections took place on 10 April and the position for the new President was not taken yet. Incumbent President, Ollanta Humala, cannot prolong his term in the office due to constitutional term limits. A candidate must have support of at least 50% of the voters to win. Keiko Fujimori, the daughter of former president – currently jailed for human rights violations, won 38% of the votes. Due to not fulfilling the criteria of obtaining the majority of votes, Fujimori will face Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, a former World Bank economist, in a second round of elections, scheduled for June 5.
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On 5 April 2016 primaries were held for both the Democrats and Republicans in the US. Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz came out as the winners at the end of the day. While Bernie Sanders beat his opponent Hillary Clinton by winning by about 56,5% of the vote against 43,1%, Ted Cruz beat his opponents Donald Trump and John Kasich by winning 48,3% of the vote against 35,1% and 14,1% respectively. The win offers momentum for both Sanders and Cruz that are lagging behind, yet the odds of them winning the nomination remains low.
Read More On 31 March 2016, protests were held of over a 100.000 people across Brazil to protest against the approaching impeachment procedure. While in contrast to earlier protests that drew millions who wanted Dilma Rousseff to step down, it is significant as the protests did not attract merely protestors in favour of the President. Many protestors worry about democracy and the implications of a precedent that could be set if there would be an impeachment. It would also not solve the economic problems of the country. The impeachment will be discussed and voted on in the lower house - Chamber of Deputies - of the Brazil's Congress on 17 April 2016. If voted for, hearings will be held in the Federal Senate. In the meanwhile, following earlier signals, more ministers of the Cabinet have resigned.
Read More On 29 March, during yet another phase in the political and economic crisis Brazil is facing, the main coalition partner Brazilian Democratic Movement Party (PMDB) withdrew their support of the current coalition that is being led by Presdent Dilma Rousseff and her Workers' Party (RT). The remaining ministers of the PMDB are expected to resign. The ruling coalition has now lost her majority in the National Congress. The move might prompt smaller coalition partners to abandon the coalition as well and increases the likelyhood President Dilma Rousseff will be impeached, a decision that will be taken by the Senate in the following months.
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On 29 March 2016, the National Assembly of Venezuela, controlled by opposition party Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), has passed amnesty legislation to free political prisoners. The bill aims to free over 70 important activists and politicians, that were detained before for political reasons, such as opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez. President Nicolás Maduro stated he would veto the bill. In case of an override of this veto by the National Assembly, the Supreme Court is expected to block the legislation as it has done so before. It is another development in the political struggle for power in Venezuela.
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On 28 March 2016, the UN Commission on the Limits of the Contintental Shelf released the results of its 14th session, which took place from 1 February until 18 March. A crucial outcome was that the commission ruled in favour of Argentina, that filed a request before to expand its continental shelf. Argentina's maritime waters would be expanded by 35%, according to this un-binding decision, and includes the waters surrounding the Falkland Islands. The latter is sensitive, as the Falkland Islands is a British Overseas Territory of the UK. While the decision was hailed in Argentina, the UK and the Falkland Islands have played down the significance of the report, stating it would have no effect on the sovereignty of the Falkland Islands. Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Carlos Foradori considered the decision - while un-binding - a victory for Argentina, yet stated Argentina would not seek to extend their rights on territories controlled by the UK.
Read More Bernie Sanders made a surprise big victory in the populous state of Washington, alongside Hawaii and Alaska, during primaries that were held there. He won about 70% of the votes of Democrat voters in Washington and Hawaii, while winning over 80% of them in Alaska. The victory has led to some regained momentum for Bernie Sanders, after having lost 5 states earlier on 15 March and the big state Arizona on 22 March. Despite this however, the gap between him and Hillary Clinton was only narrowed by about 1/5, and Hillary Clinton is still expected to clinch the Democrat nomination.
Read More On 22 March 2016, judge Teori Zavascki of the Supreme Court ordered that the corruption investigation of former President Lula da Silva should be done by the Supreme Court. The move effectively prevents Federal Judge Sérgio Moro to further prosecute Lula da Silva, as the move is suggested to shield Lula da Silva. Supreme Court Judge Teori Zavascki had been appointed before by Lula da Silva and current President Dilma Rousseff. It implies a new step in the legal battle between judges in Brazil. Federal Judge Sérgio Moro had been playing a crucial role until now in investigating the Petrobras corruption scandal, in which Lula da Silva is supposed to be involved.
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On Sunday, March 20, USA President Barack Obama embarked on the long-awaited visit to Cuba. The first visit of the sitting presidents in 88 years, was scheduled in light of the recent attempts by both sides to normalize the relations between the two nations, and mark the re-opening of the diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana. Obama met with Raul Castro, the current president, and held a speech, relating to democracy and freedom. In his speech, Obama further addressed the topics of political prisoners in Cuba. The speech was criticized by both the former president, Fidel Castro, in an open letter he published baring the title "Brother Obama", and by the current president, accusing Obama that criticism to Cuba should not precede self-correction. Obama and Castro also attended a friendly baseball game between Cuba and the U.S. The visit was conducted under warnings by the Cuban administration to refrain from intervening in Cuban internal affairs, meeting with anti-Castro activists, and call for democracy and freedom. Obama's visit was criticized as one that reflected carelessness towards the warnings.
