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peppertree's JournalChile becomes first nation outside Germany to elect the son of a known Nazi
Chile has taken a decisive turn to the right after José Antonio Kast, a hardline conservative, won the country's presidential runoff, following a campaign dominated by fears over crime, migration and economic uncertainty.
With over 95% of ballots counted, Kast, the leader of the Republican Party, secured roughly 58% of the vote.
His rival, Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara, who received just over 41% of the vote, called to concede defeat and wrote on social media, "Democracy spoke loud and clear." Outgoing President Gabriel Boric also phoned Kast to congratulate him.
Kast is set to take office March 11, 2026. He has pledged to give undocumented migrants until that date to leave the country, warning that those who remain would face deportation or prosecution.
At: https://www.npr.org/2025/12/14/nx-s1-5644074/chile-kast-right
Chilean President-elect José Kast beams after voting earlier today in Santiago.
A staunch admirer of former dictator Augusto Pinochet, Kast will become the first president since Chile's return to democracy in 1990 to openly support the former military regime.
His father, Michael Kast, was a member of the Nazi Party who fought in the German Wehrmacht during World War II before emigrating to Chile in 1950.
Kast's bother Miguel, in turn, served as Central Bank President during the country's 1982-83 foreign debt bubble collapse.
Veteran Argentine actor Hector Alterio dies in Madrid aged 96
Beloved Argentine-born actor Héctor Alterio has died in Madrid at the age of 96, his family announced on Saturday in a statement released by the producers of his final production Una pequeña historia (“A Small Story”).
Born in Buenos Aires in 1929, Alterio made his stage debut in 1948 - and although he achieved fame on screen, the talented actor continued to perform in theatre until shortly before his death.
In 1975, just before the onset of Argentina's brutal military dictatorship, he went into exile in Spain after receiving death threats from the Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance, or Triple A.
In exile, he began a long association with Spanish cinema, appearing in films such as El crimen de Cuenca (“The Crime of Cuenca”) and A un dios desconocido (“To an Unknown God”), his performance in the latter winning him the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Despite settling in Spain, he never stopped performing in Argentine films. He starred in four national films nominated for Academy Awards, including La tregua (“The Truce,” 1974), Camila (1984) and El hijo de la novia (“Son of the Bride,” 2001).
Most notably, Alterio starred as the right-wing adoptive father of a toddler abducted by the last dictatorship in La historia oficial ("The Official Story," 1985) - which won the 1986 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Alterio, who also held Spanish nationality, was described by the Spanish film academy as “one of the most outstanding performers of his generation.” In 2004 he was awarded the Goya Award for Lifetime Achievement for his career.
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/amp/culture/veteran-actor-hector-alterio-dies-in-madrid-aged-96.phtml
Veteran Argentine actor Héctor Alterio, portraying a right-wing Argentine financier, confronts his left-wing family over the country's collapse at the end of the fascist last dictatorship in the Oscar-winning The Official Story (1985).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that he was “deeply sorry” at the actor’s passing, calling him an immense and beloved performer whose talent and humanity will live on in his work.
Veteran Argentine actor Hector Alterio dies in Madrid aged 96
Beloved Argentine-born actor Héctor Alterio has died in Madrid at the age of 96, his family announced on Saturday in a statement released by the producers of his final production Una pequeña historia (“A Small Story”).
Born in Buenos Aires in 1929, Alterio made his stage debut in 1948 - and although he achieved fame on screen, the talented actor continued to perform in theatre until shortly before his death.
In 1975, just before the onset of Argentina's brutal military dictatorship, he went into exile in Spain after receiving death threats from the Argentine Anti-Communist Alliance, or Triple A.
In exile, he began a long association with Spanish cinema, appearing in films such as El crimen de Cuenca (“The Crime of Cuenca”) and A un dios desconocido (“To an Unknown God”), his performance in the latter winning him the Best Actor award at the San Sebastián International Film Festival.
Despite settling in Spain, he never stopped performing in Argentine films. He starred in four national films nominated for Academy Awards, including La tregua (“The Truce,” 1974), Camila (1984) and El hijo de la novia (“Son of the Bride,” 2001).
Most notably, Alterio starred as the right-wing adoptive father of a toddler abducted by the last dictatorship in La historia oficial ("The Official Story," 1985) - which won the 1986 Oscar for Best Foreign Language Film.
Alterio, who also held Spanish nationality, was described by the Spanish film academy as “one of the most outstanding performers of his generation.” In 2004 he was awarded the Goya Award for Lifetime Achievement for his career.
At: https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/amp/culture/veteran-actor-hector-alterio-dies-in-madrid-aged-96.phtml
Veteran Argentine actors Héctor Alterio and Norma Aleandro confront each other over the realization they have adopted a toddler abducted by the fascist last dictatorship in the Oscar-winning The Official Story (1985).
Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on X that he was “deeply sorry” at the actor’s passing, calling him an immense and beloved performer whose talent and humanity will live on in his work.
Jack DeJohnette, dynamic and instantly recognizable jazz drummer, dies at 83
Jack DeJohnette, one of the most daring and dynamic jazz drummers of the last 60 years, with a loose-limbed yet exacting beat that propelled a limitless range of adventurous music, died on Sunday at HealthAlliance Hospital in Kingston, N.Y. He was 83.
The cause was congestive heart failure, Lydia DeJohnette, his wife and manager, tells NPR.
DeJohnette had a singular voice at the drums: earthy and elastic, instantly recognizable. Rather than focus the articulation of tempo on his ride cymbal, he often distributed his emphasis around the drum set.
He adapted this flowing approach from modern jazz innovators like Roy Haynes as well as avant-garde pioneers like Rashied Ali, devising what he called a multidirectional style.
At: https://www.npr.org/2025/10/27/nx-s1-5587549/jack-dejohnette-obituary
Jack DeJohnette, 1942-2025.
Milei's far-right party wins Argentina's midterm elections - though falls short of a congressional majority
The party of Argentina’s far-right president, Javier Milei, has won Sunday’s midterm elections after a campaign in which Donald Trump announced a US$40 billon bailout for the country and made continued aid conditional on a victory by the current ruling party.
Trump's threats led much of the left-wing opposition to accuse Milei of using the fear of a financial debacle that could result from the sudden sale of some US$2 billion in pesos the U.S. Treasury purchased in October - an apparently successful gambit.
The result, however, fell short of giving Milei a congressional majority: His far-right coalition added a net 34 seats, for a total of 108 - still short of the 129 needed for an outright majority.
The opposition Homeland Strength (FP) and affiliated parties in 11 provinces - whose total Cabinet Chief Guillermo Francos excluded during his announcement of preliminary results last night despite a court order enjoining him against doing so - retained its 101 seats.
The LLA coalition also trounced the opposition in Senate races, winning a net 11 seats for a total of 25, with FP losing 6 seats and left with 28 - both short of the 37 needed for an outright majority.
The nationwide Lower House vote gave Milei's Liberty Forward (LLA) coalition 40.7% of the vote, to the center-left Homeland Strength's 34.8% - surprising many analysts given the ongoing recession and a series of scandals including crypto and kickback schemes involving Milei's sister (and Chief of Staff) Karina Milei, and ties to drug trafficking on the part of two LLA candidates.
At: https://www-pagina12-com-ar.translate.goog/869131-milei-trump-ganaron-y-se-quedaron-con-la-colonia?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
An exultant Argentine President Javier Milei celebrates last night's unexpectedly strong showing in midterm elections.
U.S. President Donald Trump's threats to rescind a $20 billion U.S. Treasury bailout likely influenced a last-minute choice by voters - who reversed a 6-point deficit for Milei in election-eve polling.
Though the addition of 34 seats in the Lower House and 11 seats in the Senate greatly enhanced Milei's congressional sway - his far-right coalition still fell short of a majority in either house.
The president's penchant for alienating center-right potential allies in Congress, moreover, likely means that he will continue to govern as he has since being elected two years ago: largely by decree, and without a federal budget.
Trump voters disapprove of $40 billion Argentina bailout: poll
Almost half of President Donald Trump’s voters disapprove of his administration’s bailout of Argentina, according to a new survey.
According to the poll by The Economist and YouGov, 48 percent of Americans who voted for Trump in the 2024 election said they disapprove of the U.S. government providing up to $40 billion in financial assistance to Argentina to help stabilize its economy, while just 30 percent said they approve. Twenty-two percent said they were not sure.
Overall, the poll found that 56 percent of voters disapprove of providing the aid to Argentina, while just 20 percent said they approve. Across all demographics, more Americans disapprove than approve of the bailout.
At: https://www.newsweek.com/trump-voters-disapprove-argentina-bailout-poll-10918329
A worried Argentine President Javier Milei votes in his country's midterm elections today, where polls show his far-right coalition is headed for defeat.
President Donald Trump's public attempt to influence this year's Argentine midterms at U.S. taxpayer expense - which he appeared to believe were presidential elections during an October 14th White House meeting with Milei - have reaped him scorn from American and Argentine voters alike.
Over US$2 billion have been spent in Argentina by the U.S. Treasury Department in a bid to prop up the peso - to little effect. A sharp devaluation is expected tomorrow.
Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein resigns four days before midterms - sparking Milei administration's fury
Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein's departure - four days before upcoming midterm elections - sparked fury in the far-right Javier Milei administration.
Although the foreign minister's fate had been sealed for days, the administration had expected to make his resignation public next week - after crucial midterm elections on Sunday.
The administration believes Werthein himself leaked the news hours ago, provoking anger against the now former official.
Werthein, 69, is a member of Argentina's most prominent Jewish family, one of the country's few billionaires - and perhaps the only high-level Milei official to enjoy bipartisan respect in the U.S.
He had already informed President Milei of his decision to resign a few days ago - a move reportedly provoked by an ongoing rivalry with Santiago Caputo, who, despite having no official title, is one of Milei's closest advisors.
Usurped foreign ministry
Caputo, 40, enjoys a wide social media following among Argentine right-wing youth, and is a nephew of Finance Minister Luis Caputo - whose reliance on carry-trade investments (which are quickly dollarized and offshored, leaving an added foreign debt burden used to finance said dollarization) had already bankrupted the country in 2018.
Caputo has spent most of the past week with longtime GOP fixer Barry Bennett, 62 - who, according to Argentine congressional sources, pressured just enough lower house members to vote against overriding a recent Milei veto (after losing three such override votes so far this month).
Werthein reportedly believes Caputo has usurped his role as Foreign Minister - and blames him for pinning U.S. President Donald Trump's equivocating statements on Werthein during the October 14 White House meeting with Milei.
Trump stated that "if he [Milei] loses, we are not going to be generous with Argentina" - in reference to an announced US$20 billion currency swap.
The U.S. Treasury has already spent over US$1 billion to prop up the flagging Argentine peso since October 9th - but to little effect.
"We're buying every single dollar they sell," an Argentine currency broker recently stated to the prominent local online journal El Destape - a reflection of heightened dollarizing and offshoring activity.
At: https://www-eldestapeweb-com.translate.goog/politica/gerardo-werthein/furia-en-casa-rosada-contra-werthein-acusaciones-graves-y-los-candidatos-para-su-reemplazo-2025102214652?_x_tr_sl=es&_x_tr_tl=en&_x_tr_hl=en&_x_tr_pto=wapp
Stuck in the middle, Argentine Foreign Minister Gerardo Werthein looks down behind President Javier Milei (right) and Milei's closest political adviser, Santiago Caputo (left).
Werthein's resignation comes four days before midterm elections - which have acquired outsized international attention after U.S. President Donald Trump pledged at least US$20 billion in taxpayer funds in an unprecedented bid to influence the results.
Polls show Milei's far-right Liberty Forward (LLA) coalition well behind the center-left, Peronist-led Homeland Strength coalition - in midterm elections President Trump appears to believe are instead presidential.
A look back: How Trump's LAST Argentine bailout turned out...
We've been here before: Trump, in 2018, forced the IMF to lend $45 billion to his old pal Mauricio Macri - who convinced Trump he "needed the loan to win" his 2019 re-election race.The bailout did Macri no political good at all.
And the bailout money? 80% of it was used by Argentine elites and foreign speculators (mostly right-wingers) to dollarize and offshore their Argentine assets - leaving Argentina the (unpayable) tab.
The country never recovered - and probably never will.
Bailing out Bessent's buddies' bets on Argentina
The Trump administration really hates giving foreign aid that serves any kind of humanitarian purpose. They are clearly unmoved by the fact that that they may be responsible for the preventable deaths of millions of children in impoverished countries.
But a $20 billion lifeline to the right-wing government of Argentina, which has no strategic value to the US and has a decades-long history of corruption, unstable politics, fiscal mismanagement and financial crises? A country that has defaulted nine times on its sovereign debt, three times since 2001? No problem!
In other words, US taxpayer money is propping up the peso - allowing hedge funders to sell their Argentine assets at inflated prices, after which the peso will promptly fall again.
At: https://paulkrugman.substack.com/p/bailing-out-bessents-buddies-bets
Two to tango: Far-right Argentine President Javier Milei with U.S. hedge fund manager (and Bessent crony) Rob Citrone during happier days last year.
Citrone's Discovery Capital hedge fund has reportedly lost hundreds of millions since Milei's currency bubble burst in June - and thus stands to benefit from a U.S. taxpayer-funded bailout.
Argentine right-wing governments have a 50-year track record to borrowing billions, that largely go to finance dollarization and offshoring of peso assets by both local elites and foreign speculators.
U.S. taxpayer funds, however, have never directly been jeopardized as in this agreement.
US buys Argentine pesos, finalizes $20 billion currency swap
Source: AP
The U.S. directly purchased Argentine pesos on Thursday and finalized a $20 billion currency swap framework with Argentina’s central bank, Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in a social media post.
“U.S. Treasury is prepared, immediately, to take whatever exceptional measures are warranted to provide stability to markets,” Bessent said, adding that the Treasury Department conducted four days of meetings with Argentinian Finance Minister Luis Caputo in Washington D.C. to come up with the deal.
Bessent has insisted that the Argentina credit swap is not a bailout. Last month, President Donald Trump stopped short of promising Argentina’s President Javier Milei a financial bailout from the Latin American country’s economic turmoil.
Still, U.S. farmers and Democratic lawmakers have criticized the deal as a bailout of a country that has benefited from sales of soybeans to China, to the detriment of U.S. farmers.
Read more: https://apnews.com/article/trump-bessent-argentina-milei-currency-swap-7432a188e57264f0e5f6c753ddc40879
Argentine President Javier Milei regales supporters with a rock performance Monday night in Buenos Aires.
The concert - which was held to promote the far-right president's latest book, and whose US$300,000 financing has not been explained - came hours after Milei concluded negotiations for a US$20 billion U.S. taxpayer-funded swap with Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.
The swap would commit the U.S. Treasury to purchase up to US$20 billion in Argentine pesos - a currency that has lost an average of 26% of its value annually since 2001, and 28% so far this year.
Swap negotiations began after President Donald Trump had declared his “complete and total endorsement for [Milei's] re-election as president” - though Milei is facing midterms.
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