Political leaders, intellectuals, and representatives of social movements are evaluating the unfavorable correlation of forces developing over the last few years, and charting action plans, taking the victory of progressive candidate

Andrés Manuel López Obrador, in Mexico, as a positive sign.
“The storm arrived and shut the window opened at the end of the 90s… The question now posed, for the Brazilian left especially, is how to open the window again,” recently wrote Valter Pomar, a member of Brazil’s Workers’ Party and a professor of International Affairs at the Federal University, in his essay on how to move forward.

In his opinion, the left needs strong candidates to challenge the right in elections, but this is not enough since the strategic “utility” of legislators and government leaders rises and falls in accordance with political perspectives and the level of organization outside of the institutional environment, implying the need for a change in methods on the left, and a recovery of spaces lost alongside the working class.

In Latin America, “The challenge for this possible left is that of building alternatives to capitalism in the economic field, where the current plan is the Uber-ization of the economy; total deregulation – except when the state is needed to dismantle a progressive gain; but above all, build alternatives in the cultural field, challenge capitalist hegemony in the cultural (and media) environment to construct a people, not consumer citizens deluded with false middle class hopes,” writes political analyst Katu Arkonada on the teleSUR blog.
Likewise, essayist, journalist, sociologist, university professor, and political analyst Olmedo Beluche, wrote in Rebelión: “Without nationalization of the national banking and financial system, without state control of foreign trade; and without the nationalization of large industries, that is, without truly socialist measures, Latin American governments in general are at the mercy of the bourgeoisie, of imperialism, and economic sabotage, as the case of Venezuela has repeatedly shown.”

This contradiction, he argues, explains the limitations of the left and the difficulty it faces in responding to the offensive being mounted by national right wing forces supported by U.S. imperialism, plus the reformist attitude of leaders who docilely accept the formalities of bourgeois institutions.
The majority of analysts agree that the progressive cycle on the continent is in crisis, but not coming to an end. Although some popular governments were removed from office via elections (Argentina) or through semi-legal or judicial maneuvers (Brazil), the progressive era’s hard core of change has not collapsed: Bolivia and Venezuela, accompanied by Nicaragua and the Cuban Revolution.
“The two projects, along with Nicaragua and Cuba, which propose going beyond capitalist relations in the long run, are on their feet, indicating that the strategic battle of our time is defending these processes,” as was made clear during the 24th annual meeting of the São Paulo Forum, held in Havana this past July.

At this gathering of the region’s political forces, proposals were made for sustained action based on the idea that government positions won by the left must reinforce their legitimate hegemony and build popular power. Peoples with political consciousness are always the best antidote to the return of the right in the Americas.
STRATEGIES FROM THE LEFT

- Systematically and creatively disseminate the economic, social, and political gains of popular governments that, for one reason or another, have suffered reverses, as well as those which have endured.
- Strengthen a constructive, serene debate on the historic, political, and ideological limitations of each process.
- Seek more efficient mechanisms for organization, consciousness building, and political participation of the social base committed to post-neoliberal change.

- Renovate relations between government political parties and popular movements with nationalist and patriotic positions, taking a favorable position on the need for a state that assures democratic functioning in the construction of consensus.
- Build consensus among segments of society that share, or could share, demands, interests, and revolutionary or progressive change.

- Strengthen the cause of Puerto Rican independence, as a symbol of the anti-colonial struggle to be defended.
- Build active participation of the people and national majorities in the political process of each country.

- Provide decisive support and encourage liberation efforts and anti-capitalist ideas within social movements.

- Promote efforts to advance the integration of what Martí called Our America.
- Support, in all international spaces available, any action taken to reduce the level of domination and hegemony of the United States in our countries, as essential and possible.

(Granma)

The experts presented a report in Geneva, in which they warned of the critical political and social situation that the Central American country is experiencing and called on the national government to respect the human rights and life of Hondurans.

The document highlighted that street protests and unrest are not exceptional situations and do not justify the suspension of fundamental rights.

The Opposition Alliance against the Dictatorship in Honduras called this Wednesday morning for a series of national protests and mobilizations against the recent killings and repression and what they consider “fraud” in the elections of November 26.

Manuel Zelaya Rosales, coordinator of the Alliance, called on protests against “the vile murders, physical attacks, persecutions and aggressions carried out by the military, paramilitaries and police against the people who exercise their universal right to peaceful protest in defense of their vote.”

Through a statement, the Opposition coalition, which backed the presidential candidate Salvador Nasralla, expressed its support for peaceful protests and accused President Juan Orlando Hernández, re-elected according to the TSE, of being the main figure responsible for the recent events that have left at least 26 dead.

They called on the Honduran people to “actively protest” this Wednesday in front of the General Staff of the Armed Forces, located in Comayagüela. This Thursday the intention of the Alliance is to march toward the United States Embassy, after the U.S. government recognized Hernández’s triumph; while on Friday afternoon they have called for further street mobilizations across the country.

Nasralla, who lost by less than two percentage points after a long pause in the issuing of the electoral results, in which his advantage was suddenly and steadily eroded, traveled to Washington on Monday and met with the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS), Luis Almagro, who considered that the most viable solution is to repeat the elections.

(Prensa Latina)