Argentina is experiencing a political crisis under the administration of President Javier Milei. The crisis was largely self-generated, stemming from the announcement of a massive emergency decree and omnibus bill that bordered on unconstitutionality. Although the bill made progress in Congress, it was eventually pulled after negotiations. The opposition, particularly the Juntos por el Cambio coalition, led the legislative debates and negotiations. President Milei reacted strongly to the bill's withdrawal, labeling deputies who voted against it as 'traitors' and celebrating the opposition's victory [400f8ee9].
Milei's rise to power was fueled by a digital ecosystem, where his aggressive discussions on news shows gained traction on social media. His popularity extended globally, with his speech at Davos becoming the most watched at the World Economic Forum. Milei's aggressive retweets highlight his strong digital following, which includes libertarians and other groups forming the 'New Right' in Argentina [400f8ee9].
The collapse of the reform bill does not change the government's policy path, according to Economy Minister Luis 'Toto' Caputo. However, the future of the Milei administration remains uncertain as it navigates challenges with the opposition and economic instability [400f8ee9].
In a new development, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has accused Argentine President Javier Milei of being afraid of the 'truth of the people.' Milei's administration has prohibited the broadcast of teleSUR's signal on the Argentine open digital television system. Maduro states that Argentinians can still watch teleSUR through social media and assures that teleSUR cannot be censored. Other Venezuelan officials have criticized the attack on freedom of expression. In 2016, President Mauricio Macri took teleSUR off the air, but President Alberto Fernandez authorized its return in 2020. TeleSUR is a Latin American news television network founded in 2005 [e5904ca2].
Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has denounced the existence of a social media campaign aimed at censoring expressions of support for the Bolivarian revolution. Venezuelans are currently carrying out the 'I follow Maduro' campaign on social networks. The United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and other Bolivarian forces announced the start of a campaign to massively follow President Maduro on social networks. In less than a day, 'I follow Maduro' became a trend on social networks, ratifying the popular rejection of the campaign promoted by far-right forces at the national and international level. Maduro called on his political campaign team to organize thousands to pave the way for the victory of the Bolivarian revolution in the July 28 elections [4ea3b304].
Employees of Slovakia’s public radio and television broadcaster, Radio and Television Slovakia (RTVS), went on a three-hour walkout strike to protest against government plans to overhaul the broadcasting service. The strike was in response to a bill drafted by Culture Minister Martina Šimkovičová, which includes plans to change the name of the broadcaster to Slovakian Television and Radio (STVR) and appoint a new director through a nine-member council. The bill has faced criticism from RTVS employees and organizations like Reporters Without Borders and the European Federation of Journalists, who argue that it allows for government influence and undermines the independence of the public broadcaster. The strike also comes after the Slovakian Prime Minister Robert Fico was shot several times in May 2024 [fe74a10e].