US-backed banker Lasso prevails in Ecuador’s election – a disaster for the people

The US-led hybrid war on Ecuador’s left has succeeded in electing right-wing banker Lasso. The left, meanwhile, remains a major political force in Ecuador and will resist the avalanche of attacks to come. But it will need all the international solidarity it can get as it struggles against political persecution, to defend ordinary people’s living standards, and to resist the offensive on basic democratic rights and sovereignty.

The deadly combination of coronavirus and neoliberalism in Latin America

Latin America has become a new epicentre of the global coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic, as the death toll rapidly increases in countries with US-backed neoliberal governments. In particular, Brazil, Ecuador and Peru seem to be seriously mishandling the public health crisis.

Ecuador’s coronavirus “horror story” – interview with Marcela Aguiñaga

The rapid spread of coronavirus in Ecuador is having a devastating impact.

According to the government’s official data Ecuador has 10,128 confirmed cases of coronavirus and 507 deaths, as of the 21st April. These figures are, however, widely considered to be a fabrication, with experts estimating that this official data amounts to less than 10% of pandemic’s actual casualties.

I interviewed Marcela Aguiñaga to discuss the unfolding coronavirus catastrophe in Ecuador. Aguiñaga is a member of the National Assembly in Ecuador and part of the Citizens’ Revolution – a political movement led by former Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa.

América Latina se prepara para la crisis del coronavirus: los países en desarrollo necesitan solidaridad, no sanciones

El coronavirus se está propagando rápidamente en varios países de América Latina, lo que supone una amenaza para la vida de millones de personas en todo el continente. En esta situación de vida o muerte, la población de América Latina necesita solidaridad y asistencia para hacer frente a una crisis que ha desbordado los sistemas de salud de algunas de las economías más ricas y avanzadas del mundo.

La respuesta de los gobiernos de América Latina ha variado considerablemente hasta ahora. Los países con un liderazgo de orientación socialista han adoptado estrictas medidas preventivas. Por otra parte, el presidente de ultraderecha del Brasil, Jair Bolsonaro, está siguiendo el enfoque contrario, uniéndose a Donald Trump para restarle importancia a la crisis y no tomar medidas, lo que supone un riesgo de catástrofe y de muertes masivas en un país de 210 millones de personas.

Ecuador: the struggle against the US, state repression and neo-liberalism – an interview with Orlando Pérez Sánchez

I interview Ecuadorian writer and journalist Orlando Pérez Sánchez to find out his perspective on the huge crisis and struggles taking place in Ecuador at the moment.

Orlando is the former editor of El Telégrafo, an Ecuadorian state-owned newspaper. He currently reports for the Latin American news outlet TeleSUR.