The recent presidential and legislative elections in El Salvador have faced scrutiny from the Supreme Electoral Tribunal. Nayib Bukele, who claimed victory in the elections, has not yet officially been declared the winner. The Tribunal will be opening a significant number of ballot boxes for both the presidential and legislative elections to conduct a thorough vote count. Despite congratulations from several world leaders, the official announcement is still pending. Only 70.25% of the minutes processed have been counted so far, with Bukele receiving a significant lead over his main rival, Manuel ‘El Chino’ Flores. The count for the legislative elections is even lower, with only 5.06% of the minutes being accounted for. The decision to open all the ballot boxes comes in response to complaints about the system for transmitting electoral results. The final count will begin on Tuesday, with digitized and transmitted records being accepted while manual records will be discarded. The Tribunal has cited inconveniences and difficulties in the transmission process for this decision. The disputed ballot boxes will be opened in the presence of various authorities and international observers. Anomalies have been reported, including duplicated results and system errors favoring the ruling party, New Ideas. Opposition groups have labeled the elections as fraudulent and rejected Bukele’s self-proclamation as the winner. They accuse the regime of illegally modifying the electoral system and violating legal provisions during the campaign.

If the German poet and playwright Johann Wolfgang von Goethe were to come back to life, he would surely request a new house and a different burial. This desire stems from Goethe’s belief, as described by his biographers, that brain volume is linked to intelligence. As a result, he specifically requested to be buried alongside another intellectual giant, Schiller. However, fulfilling this wish proved to be a complex task as Schiller had already passed away, and his remains were buried in a mass grave, making it impossible to identify them. In an attempt to honor Goethe’s wish, authorities selected the largest and most impressive skull, assuming it belonged to Schiller. However, centuries later, genetic analysis revealed that the chosen skull was not Schiller’s, leading to the unsettling realization that Goethe had been buried beside the wrong person.

Interestingly, if Goethe were alive today, he would probably not be surprised to learn that brain size does not necessarily correlate with intelligence. Such scientific understanding has progressed over the years, evident in the state of his dilapidated house-museum.

Following Goethe’s death, his family retained ownership of the house. It was only in 1885 that it became public property and, subsequently, opened to the public, attracting mainly cultured and devoted admirers. While not all aspects of the house could be preserved exactly as they were during Goethe’s time, his burial chamber, study, and library remain intact as he left them in March 1832. Despite the turbulent events of the 20th century, which did not inflict major damage on the house, it has suffered from overall deterioration.

To address this issue, sanitation plans have been put in place, with renovation work scheduled to commence in 2026 and expected to last at least three years. According to the authorities, the extended timeframe is due to the complexity of the project. However, it is no secret that Germany tends to face bureaucratic hurdles and complications when it comes to carrying out large-scale renovations.

The estimated cost of the renovation is approximately 45 million euros, with funds to be allocated over a period of just under 10 years. The federal state of Thuringia, where the city of Weimar is located, has agreed to contribute 17.5 million euros, while 10 million euros will come from foundations and donations. The remaining 17.5 million euros will be requested from the federal budget, pending approval from the Bundestag. Prominent figures, such as Claudia Roth, the head of Culture in Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s coalition, have voiced their support for the renovation, but emphasize that the final decision lies with the responsible members of the German Bundestag.

Roth has expressed her support, stating that she would “naturally welcome it if the Budget Committee could provide a subsidy for the renovation of the Goethe House in Weimar. However, the ultimate decision on this matter rests with the responsible members of the German Bundestag.” In her statement, Roth highlights the significant importance of the Klassik-Stiftung Weimar to the Ministry of Culture and emphasizes the substantial federal funding already allocated to the foundation, amounting to 14 million euros annually for its operational expenses. Ultimately, the fate of Goethe and his house lies in the hands of political decision-makers, drawing parallels to the themes explored in Goethe’s masterpiece, Faust.

Netflix has just added a new film called Will to its collection. Set in Antwerp in the 1940s, the movie is based on a book by Jeroen Olyslaegers and follows two police officers struggling to balance their allegiance to the Resistance with their obligations to the Gestapo during the occupation. Belgium, a country with a complex history of spies, traitors, and exiles, still finds it difficult to openly discuss this dark period.

The country is no stranger to complicit leaders who either remained in Belgium or sought refuge in Latin America or Spain, like infamous figure Leon Degrelle. Shockingly, there have been cases of individuals who received pensions from the Nazis for their services to the Third Reich and continue to do so. Tragically, half of Belgium’s Jewish population was exterminated during the Holocaust, leaving behind a painful legacy.

Recently, a debate emerged in Flanders regarding amnesty for those who collaborated with Hitler’s regime, prompting the then Minister of Justice to stir controversy by suggesting that it might be time to “forget” about collaborationism. This sparked outrage and debates about the importance of facing and learning from the past.

In 2024, Belgium will commemorate various significant anniversaries. One heartwarming story that gained attention is the fundraising campaign led by Randy Buelens to bring World War II veteran Chester Sloan, known as Buck, to Europe for the celebrations of the Normandy landings. Despite being seriously wounded in the Ardennes, Buck, who turns 100 on June 1, wanted to participate and bid farewell to the historic event.

Another remarkable publication that has recently been released is Following the Footprints by Jean de Selys Longchamps. Authored by Marc Audrit, this biography delves into the life of a baron who transformed from a posh and carefree young man into a national hero after the invasion. Serving in the British air force, the baron and his companion successfully attacked a railway line near Ghent and returned to Brussels, defying orders. Flying over key Nazi-held locations, they targeted the Gestapo headquarters, resulting in the deaths of four Nazis, including a high-ranking SS officer responsible for deporting thousands of Jews to Auschwitz.

Although the pilot and his team were hailed as heroes and received medals, the baron tragically lost his life in another operation months later. Despite the countless stories and legends surrounding De Selys Longchamps, it is surprising that it took 80 years for his definitive biography to be written. Belgium, a nation lacking in mythical heroes, should pay more homage to its recent ones, beyond a few busts and faded memories.

The Bolivarian revolution has once again presented a revised version of the National Dialogue Table, aimed at manipulating the upcoming presidential elections. This table, also known as the “little table” due to its lack of representation, was previously used in the 2020 parliamentary elections, which were widely disputed by the international community and the democratic opposition.

In the past, the “little table” had the support of Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov and former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero.

Recently, the National Assembly, resulting from this process, welcomed a group of collaborationist pre-candidates closely aligned with the Bolivarian regime. They accepted the ruling party’s invitation to propose their preferred election date and contribute their conditions to Nicolás Maduro’s “magnanimous act.”

Among the participants were evangelical leader Javier Bertucci, a ally of Zapatero in Caracas and former prison companion of Leopoldo López. There were also deputies financed by Colombian magnate Alex Saab, as well as other relatively unknown figures to Venezuelans. However, even with Nicolás Maduro included, they only accounted for a meager 21% of national support, according to a survey conducted by Polianalítico in January.

Javier Bertucci, who previously ran as a compliant candidate in the 2018 presidential elections under the banner of Esperanza por el Cambio, emphasized the need to not toy with the hopes of the people.

Interestingly, the candidate leading the polls and the only one to have passed a primary election with 92.6% of the votes did not attend the meeting. They were neither invited nor welcome. The signatories of the Barbados Agreement, along with the government, were also absent. María Corina Machado pointed out the violation of the agreement and the Unitary Platform, representing the opposition, described the meeting as unacceptable and aimed at distorting the electoral process.

“Maduro is now proposing an electoral schedule, with rumors of elections in July. This would require the registration of candidates to be completed by March or April, which may not align with the US deadline for revoking Machado’s disqualification. It puts the US in a dilemma and leaves uncertainty about any potential negotiation,” explained political consultant Luis Peche Arteaga.

The proposed date for elections in July appears to be the most favored, considering the agreement in Barbados that stipulated elections in the second half of the year.

The Bolivarian revolution is now attempting to generate divisions within the opposition through debates about replacing Machado’s candidacy and by introducing new candidates who may legitimize the elections both domestically and internationally. This strategy aims to limit the purification of the Electoral Registry, hinder the registration of new voters, and complicate international observation,” sociologist Gianni Finco revealed.

The current situation poses a significant dilemma for the United States and Machado herself. They must decide whether to proceed with Machado’s candidacy as planned and boycott the elections, as done in the past, or negotiate concessions that would allow a candidate from the democratic alliance to run with Machado’s endorsement,” added Luis Peche.

Chile is shocked, hit by the biggest catastrophe since the earthquake that left 521 dead and 56 missing in 2010.. It was expected that this year, with a dry and hotter summer, the fires would grow, but no one imagined what February 2024 would bring: more than 15,000 homes burned, 112 dead and more than 200 missing.

“I have declared national mourning for two days, starting tomorrow, Monday, because it is the entire Chile that mourns and suffers for our dead,” said President Gabriel Boric this Sunday, visiting the Valparaíso region, the epicenter of the fires.

“My deepest condolences to each of the victims who have lost a loved one and also to those who have lost their homes, their memories and their belongings.”. Know that you will not be alone,” added the head of state, who described the fires as “the biggest tragedy we have experienced” in the country since the 2010 earthquakes.

Boric, who since December buried the dream of a new Constitution, adopted a “management mode” with which he tries to be seen as close and concerned about the problems of Chileans in daily life, had to reorganize his government in the middle of the holidays. summer in the southern hemisphere.

February is Chilean August, the month in which the country comes to a standstill. The Minister of Defense, Maya Fernández, granddaughter of Salvador Allende, had to return to Chile one day after starting her vacation in Brazil. The minister spokesperson, Camila Vallejo, is also on vacation.

A few days ago, Boric had given a positive assessment of the fight against the fires that hit the country every summer, especially in the central region.

“This year, in the season until January 26, 2024, we had had 2,867 fires. In the same period last year, we had 3,934. That is, this year we have had 27% fewer fires.”

Days later, that balance became useless. Carolina Tohá, Minister of the Interior, spoke openly of “intentional” fires.

“There are always rumors of this type, but this time they are serious antecedents from reliable people,” said the minister this Sunday when visiting Valparaíso.

Chile is not prepared

Michel De L'Herbe, an expert in risk prevention, told El Mercurio that Chile is not prepared to adequately fight the periodic fires that plague the country.

“We are in a context of extreme weather and we are missing fundamental aspects, such as fighting fires at night and also increasing the capacity of liters of water transported by aircraft.. Those that have a capacity of 1,100 or 1,500 liters are not enough. “At least six thousand to ten thousand liters are required.”

Luis Toledo, specialist in Civil Protection and Emergency Management, highlighted that Chile faces risks “every year on the same date.”

“The geographical configuration, with ravines, presence of vegetation and often garbage, offers the conditions for interface fires. Valparaíso was called by the native peoples as Alimapu, which means territory devastated by fire.. “The repopulation of burned and high-risk areas, together with the absence of preventive measures and the lack of construction of defensive firebreaks in the vicinity of populated areas, must be analyzed.”

Pope Francis dedicated a moment to the Chilean tragedy this Sunday, during the traditional Angelus prayer: “We pray for the dead and injured of the devastating fires that hit central Chile.”

The Chilean meteorological service assured that starting Tuesday the heat and wind conditions will no longer be extreme and will favor the fight against the multiple outbreaks of fire.