Canning House | Latin American Weekly Report

30-04-2015: Latin American Weekly Report

LatinNews

30th Apr 2015

Honduran supreme court lifts constitutional ban on re-election

Events in Honduras in late April have begun to look like a mirror image (that is, an image in reverse) of those that led in June 2009 to the ouster of President Manuel Zelaya (2006-2009). The constitutional panel of the supreme court has ruled ‘inapplicable’ the very constitutional provisions whose violations by Zelaya triggered his removal from office. As in 2009, the course of current events has been anything but straightforward — to the point that Zelaya has become one of the most vocal critics of the court’s ruling, on the grounds that it is “illegal and arbitrary”.

At stake are the so-called artículos pétreos (“articles cast in stone”) of the 1982 constitution excluded from the legislature’s power to reform the constitution by a two-thirds vote — particularly the core Article 239 which bars the reelection of anyone who has served as President and penalises anyone seeking to change this (a provision strengthened by Article 42 and Article 330 of the penal code).

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Democracy in Action - Chile chooses its future

Last week saw the anniversary of the birth of Bernardo O’Higgins. A revolutionary leader, he led the forces to secure independence from Spain, establishing the new Republic of Chile, creating a working governmental organisation and establishing peace and order, based on the principles of freedom and democracy. Principles which resonate today and which are at the heart of what is happening now in Chile - writes Fiona Clouder.

Petro's first 100 days: Peace takes priority

Gustavo Petro has served as President of Colombia for 100 days. In Canning House's latest blog, Dr Gwen Burnyeat and Dr Andrei Gómez-Suárez give their view on his tenure so far, including his focus on "Total Peace" and environmental protection, and ahead to the challenges he can expect going forward.

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More recent briefings & intelligence

Democracy in Action - Chile chooses its future

Petro's first 100 days: Peace takes priority

Becoming a member at Canning House

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