Latest news with #protestas
CTV News
4 days ago
- General
- CTV News
Mexico's first judicial elections stir controversy and confusion among voters
An electoral worker prepares ballot boxes for the country's first judicial elections in Mexico City, June 1, 2025. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) MEXICO CITY — Mexico held its first-ever judicial elections on Sunday, stirring controversy and sowing confusion among voters still struggling to understand a process set to transform the country's court system. The election appeared to get off to a slow start. Some voting centers in Mexico City, the Gulf coast state of Veracruz and the southern state of Chiapas opened with no one or only a handful of people waiting to vote. Experts had warned that turnout in the historic elections could be extremely low, due to the mindboggling array of unfamiliar choices and the fact that voting for judges is entirely new. Mexico's ruling party, Morena, overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach. 'It's an effort to control the court system, which has been a sort of thorn in the side' of those in power, said Laurence Patin, director of the legal organization Juicio Justo in Mexico. 'But it's a counter-balance, which exists in every healthy democracy.' Now, instead of judges being appointed on a system of merit and experience, Mexican voters will choose between some 7,700 candidates vying for more than 2,600 judicial positions. In a middle-class Mexico City neighborhood, poll workers organized the color-coded ballots by federal and local contests. Four people were waiting to vote when the location opened. Esteban Hernández, a 31-year-old veterinary student, said he didn't agree with electing judges and doesn't support Morena, but came to vote because 'since there isn't much participation, my vote will count more.' He had studied the candidates on a website listing their qualifications and decided to pick those who had doctorates. At the same polling place, Octavio Arellano, a 67-year-old consultant, quickly made his selections, referring to handwritten notes he carried with him. He's also a critic of the process, but voted for members of the Supreme Court, as well as disciplinary and electoral tribunals, to 'influence the most important' races. He said he spoiled his votes for the local judicial positions. At a polling place in a park in Tapachula, near the border with Guatemala, Francisco Torres de León, a 62-year-old retired teacher, came prepared, having studied the ballots and his selections. He marked all the ballots in about five minutes, but even so, said, 'the process is laborious because there are too many candidates and positions that they're going to occupy.' Hugo de León Roblero, 73, also a retired teacher, took about 20 minutes to fill out the ballots at the same polling place, but supported the process, which he said was a necessary change, 'even though there's some confusion about how to vote.' Mexico President Claudia Sheinbaum and party allies have said the elections are a way to purge the court system of corruption in a country that has long faced high levels of impunity. Critics say the vote could damage democracy and open the judicial system up further to organized crime and other corrupt actors hoping to get a grip on power. That process has only grown more chaotic in the run-up to the vote. Civil society organizations like Defensorxs have raised red flags about a range of candidates running for election, including lawyers who represented some of Mexico's most feared cartel leaders and local officials who were forced to resign from their positions due to corruption scandals. Also among those putting themselves forward are ex-convicts imprisoned for years for drug-trafficking to the United States and a slate of candidates with ties to a religious group whose spiritual leader is behind bars in California after pleading guilty to sexually abusing minors. At the same time, voters have been plagued by confusion over a voting process that Patin warned has been hastily thrown together. Voters often have to choose from sometimes more than a hundred candidates who are not permitted to clearly voice their party affiliation or carry out widespread campaigning. As a result, many Mexicans say they're going into the vote blind. Mexico's electoral authority has investigated voter guides being handed out across the country, in what critics say is a blatant move by political parties to stack the vote in their favor. 'Political parties weren't just going to sit with their arms crossed,' Patin said. Miguel Garcia, a 78-year-old former construction worker, stood in front of the country's Supreme Court on Friday peering at a set of posters, voter guides with the faces and numbers of candidates. He was fiercely scribbling down their names on a small scrap of paper and said that he had traveled across Mexico City to try to inform himself ahead of the vote, but he couldn't find any information other than outside the courthouse. 'In the neighborhood where I live, there's no information for us,' he said. 'I'm confused, because they're telling us to go out and vote but we don't know who to vote for.' María Verza, Megan Janetsky and Fabiola Sánchez, The Associated Press AP journalists Edgar H. Clemente in Tapachula, Mexico, Alba Aléman in Xalapa, Mexico and Fernando Llano in Mexico City contributed to this report.
Washington Post
5 days ago
- General
- Washington Post
Mexico's first judicial elections stir controversy and confusion among voters
MEXICO CITY — Mexico is holding its first ever judicial elections on Sunday, stirring controversy and sowing confusion among voters still struggling to understand a process set to transform the country's court system . Mexico's ruling party, Morena, overhauled the court system late last year, fueling protests and criticism that the reform is an attempt by those in power to seize on their political popularity to gain control of the branch of government until now out of their reach.
Reuters
22-05-2025
- Politics
- Reuters
Dozens injured in pension protest outside Argentina Congress
BUENOS AIRES, May 21 (Reuters) - Dozens of people were injured during a protest outside Argentina's Congress on Wednesday where activists and retired Argentines demanded higher pensions, according to Reuters witnesses. TV footage showed elderly protesters and activists singing and chanting as security forces pushed through the crowd in Buenos Aires with riot shields and batons. The protest took place outside Congress as deputies failed to reach quorum for several bills, including proposals for pension increases and continuity of benefits for retirees. The government of libertarian President Javier Milei, which has sought to improve the economy and tackle painfully high inflation by slashing public spending, opposed both proposals. Milei's austerity drive has triggered weekly protests in the capital, with workers' unions and soccer fans joining retirees to protest pension cuts amid stubborn inflation and reduced public spending. "This place, the home of democracy, cannot remain indifferent when a pensioner is earning 379,000 pesos (about $331 a month)," lawmaker Paula Oliveto of the center Civic Coalition party said during the Congress session. Some 124 lawmakers were present for voting while 133 were absent. Esteban Paulon, a Socialist Party representative, accused lawmakers who supported the government's policies of laughing when the session failed due to lack of quorum. "The government's plan is evidently to kill millions of people collecting minimum wage through hunger," he said. The government argues that its resources are limited and to increase pensions, the country must first see more investment and economic growth. Around 38% of people in South America's No. 2 economy were in poverty - 11.3 million people - in the second half of last year, according to government data. This was down from 53% recorded in the first half. ($1 = 1,146.0000 Argentine pesos)
Times
20-05-2025
- Times
Spain orders 65,000 Airbnbs to close in fightback against mass tourism
The Spanish government has ordered Airbnb to block more than 65,000 holiday listings on its platform for rule violations, the consumer rights ministry said. The Spanish authorities' attempts to prevent another summer of discontent over surging tourism have led to curbs on rental flats across the country. The regional government of the Balearic Islands is also attempting to stop a 'massive influx of tourists' drawn by images posted online by influencers, La Vanguardia newspaper reported. In recent months tens of thousands of Spaniards have taken to the streets protesting against rising housing and rental costs, which many say have been driven up by holiday rentals on platforms such as Airbnb that have proliferated in popular tourist destinations. 'Enough with protecting those who make a
Daily Mail
19-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Easyjet releases statement following anti-tourism protests in Spain
easyJet has released a statement after residents across the Canary Islands came out in full force over the weekend to protest again mass tourism - leaving holidaymakers cowering in hotels. Tens of thousands of fed up locals kicked off demonstrations at 11am on 18 May on the seven main islands of Tenerife, Gran Canaria, Fuerteventura, El Hierro, La Palma, La Gomera and Lanzarote. Furious residents marched with the slogan 'Canarias tiene un limite' (The Canaries has a limit, while slogans were chanted such as: 'El dinero del turismo, donde está?', meaning 'The money from tourism, where is it?' Dressed in yellow shirts and carrying placards, they demanded authorities do more to limit tourism's impact on the area, such as reducing the number of short-term rentals and creating more affordable homes for locals. Dozens of armed officers from the National Police were seen on patrol, as protesters were heard blowing through enormous shells to make a loud horn-like noise, while banging on drums. The upheaval has left many holidaymakers too frightened to venture outside, as Irish tourist Alberto Babo shared that he's holed himself up in his Airbnb accommodation 'just to be safe.' easyJet, a European carrier frequently used by UK visitors to Spain, has assured it haven't had yet encountered any issues with customers regarding anti-tourist protests. A spokesperson added in a statement: 'Local policymakers have a range of tools to address impacts on local communities that may identify issues, including promoting other destinations. Scores of fed-up locals kicked off demonstrations across the archipelago from 11am, including in Tenerife, where thousands of Brits are currently holidaying 'As such they would be better placed to help you on this matter as transport operators including airlines are simply serving the demand that exists.' Demonstrators have also taken to the streets in Barcelona, Valencia and Madrid, as tensions towards tourists have continued to rise over the last year. In April, locals fired water pistols at a tour bus outside Barcelona's Sagrada Familia, as they warned of bigger protests this summer. On Sunday, in Lanzarote, an Irish holidaymaker revealed he was too scared to leave his AirBnB. Alberto Babo, 32, told MailOnline: 'I didn't go out today due to the protests, I'm stuck in my Airbnb to avoid the crowds. I hope they are not violent or anything but just to be safe I'm here. All I can hear is the noise.' One placard read: 'Stop excessive tourism… this is our home,' while another said: 'My misery is your paradise'. A banner declared the Canary Islands 'is no longer a paradise' thanks to tourism. Another sign was inscribed with the words: 'tourists swim in s**t', referencing the large amount of sewage water that is dumped into the sea - the majority of it, activists say, coming from hotels and tourist accommodations. Other placards in Spanish said: 'Don't sell your homes to guiris!' Guiri is a Spanish slang word for British and other tourists. Protesters in Barcelona hold up signs which read: 'No queda paraiso para Lxs Canaria,' translating to 'There is no paradise left for the Canary Islands' Protesters were heard blowing through enormous shells to make a loud horn-like noise, while banging on drums Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso, has since announced that he will reach out to the activists to 'discuss the future of the islands' Another housing issue is the high number of properties being snapped up by foreign purchasers, which locals say is behind skyrocketing prices Thousands of people protested against the tourism model and mass tourism 'We are not against individual tourists, just those who don't respect the rules, who throw trash and pollute and commit crimes. 'We have toilets that are closed on our beaches because they are contaminated by sewage. 'Since our historic protest last year the government has done nothing, they have actually increased the number of tourists coming and we don't have enough room. 'The traffic is so bad when they are here; a 15-minute journey takes one hour. 'The number of Airbnbs is too high and there is nowhere to rent, it is catastrophic for the island.' It comes after the Canary Islands government said it wants to hold emergency talks with the activists following a plunge in British bookings. Santiago Sese, president of the region's Chamber of Commerce, expressed concern on Friday after revealing the number of British reservations for this summer have fallen by 8 per cent year-on-year in Tenerife. Sese revealed the troubling numbers while presenting the Economic Situation Report for 2025, reports regional newspaper El Dia. Among the protesters is Paula McKnight Morales, 39, whose father is from the US but who grew up on the islands They want to ban on any new hotels or tourism apartment complexes from being built Demonstrators could also be heard shouting 'Canarias No Se Vende', meaning 'The Canary Islands Are Not For Sale,' while they blew whistles and proudly held Canary Island flags in the sky. Marchers also echoed the chant 'No hay cams pa' tanto guiri', translating to 'There's not enough beds for so many foreigners.' While another placard read: 'Enjoying a day at your pool? That water could be going on food.' According to Metro, there were initially 2,000 marchers expected to participate in the march this Sunday - a significantly lower number than an April protest against anti-tourism in Tenerife's capital, Santa Cruz. Holidaymakers looked on from rooftops as protesters marched by, as locals reportedly took the opportunity to pull the middle finger towards tourist, who allegedly did kissing gestures back. Among the protesters is Paula McKnight Morales, 39, whose father is from the US but who grew up on the islands. The swimming instructor told MailOnline: 'Spain has become the after party for Europe, and Tenerife has more tourists per year than Brazil, we don't have room. Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso, has since announced that he will reach out to the activists to 'discuss the future of the islands'. Alfonso said the government has been working on a model to 'achieve a balance between the interests of residents and tourists.' Tourism minister for Tenerife, Lope Alfonso said the government has been working on a model to 'achieve a balance between the interests of residents and tourists.' Activists are calling for a cap on the number of holidaymakers, to prevent overcrowding and resource depletion According to Sese, there are signs of a decline in the number of tourists, with the British market among the most affected. He said competing countries like Turkey, Greece, Egypt, and neighbouring Morocco have all seen their bookings increase. He regretted that the advertising campaigns specifically targeting the UK are not having an impact. It follows a series of widely-reported 'anti-tourism' protests across Spain that have made many Brits feel unwelcome. But the 'Canaries has a limit' (Canarias tiene un limite) movement, which is behind the protests this weekend, has seemingly rejected the olive branch. Referencing the government's offer of a dialogue it wrote: 'Dialogue? We want facts. 'The rest are attempts to calm what's coming: a social uprising demanding a fair model for the Canary Islands, where bosses, lobbyists, and corrupt officials have no place. See you this Sunday.' The Canary Islands has a population of 2.2million people, but welcomes around 18million holidaymakers each year - which locals say is placing a strain on resources, causing jet fuel pollution, traffic chaos and a host of other issues. Thousands of protestors gathered in Tenerife with flags and drums For this reason, activists are calling for a cap on the number of holidaymakers, to prevent overcrowding and resource depletion. Among their other demands is a ban on any new hotels or tourism apartment complexes, and the immediate demolition of projects already declared illegal. These include large-scale luxury projects like the Cuna del Alma and La Tejita hotels in Tenerife, which they accuse of causing environmental harm. They also want a 'significant' tourist eco-tax that will be used to pay for the conservation and maintenance of natural spaces.
