#todosel19palacalle - Venezuela protests
Massive protests are planned across Venezuela on Wednesday, where there has been growing opposition to President Nicolas Maduro. For more than two weeks the streets have been filled with demonstrators after the Venezuelan Supreme Court dissolved the opposition controlled Parliament. The opposition referred to that move as a coup. Then last week Maduro banned opposition leader Henrique Capriles from engaging in any political work until 2032. Growing political discontent combined with economic crisis has pushed thousands to the streets and online to voice their discontent. The country has one of the worst inflation rates in the world and faces severe food and medical shortages. Despite this, Maduro remains defiant and the military has vowed its full support to him. Now organisers have promised “the mother of all protests” on the national holiday marking Venezuela’s independence from Spain. We’ll check in on those protests and what the opposition is hoping to achieve.
#2017대선 - South Korea political change
South Korea’s former President Park Geun-hye was indicted on Monday on charges of bribery and abuse of power, which sets the stage for a trial that could result in a prison term. She was also accused of coercion and leaking state secrets. Park and her confidant Choi Soon-sil allegedly collected more than $52 million in bribes from businesses in exchange for government favours. Top executives of Korean companies Samsung and Lotte have also been held in connection with these allegations. Days of street protests led to Park’s impeachment and arrest last month, but she denies all wrongdoing.
The country is in the hands of a caretaker government and elections are scheduled for May 9. As tensions with North Korea rise, we’ll take a look at the impact of these charges against Park and what the mood like?
#Presidentielle2017 - France elections
France goes to the polls on Saturday in the first round of a race that could go in any of the top candidates’ favour. Far-left Jean-Luc Mélenchon has enjoyed a recent spike in his numbers, conservative ex-Prime Minister Francois Fillon has shown popularity despite scandal, and the front-runners, far-right leader Marine Le Pen and centrist Emmanuel Macron, have seen their poll ratings dip. Some of the main issues voters are going to the ballot box concerned about - jobs, immigration, security and France’s relationship with the European Union. As election day nears, we’ll discuss how each candidate is faring.
In this episode of The Stream, we speak with:
Raúl Stolk @raulstolk
Chairman, Caracas Chronicles
Bruce Harrison @brucesbeat
Journalist
Suki Kim @sukisworld
Investigative journalist
Rim-Sarah Alouane @RimSarah
Public law researcher
What do you think? Leave your thoughts in the comments section below.
