The December 8th municipal elections in Venezuela gave yet another victory to the Bolivarian revolution, with the Socialist United Party (PSUV) and its allies receiving 5.1 million votes (49.24% of the total) and 4.4 million (42.72%) going to the opposition. The opposition had presented these elections as a plebiscite on Maduro’s presidency; the result, however, will serve to vindicate the decision taken by Maduro’s to fight against the economic sabotage led by the capitalists.

Nelson Mandela is no more. At about 20:50 on Thursday 5th December, Nelson Rohishlahla Mandela passed away peacefully at the age of 95 after a long illness. The news was announced by President Jacob Zuma to a worldwide audience. All across the country people gathered to pay tribute to a freedom fighter. Ben Morken in South Africa looks back at the life of this important political and historic figure.

Given the lack of opportunities for political expression in the US, even off-year elections provide important insights into where things stand politically and in which direction they are moving. Frustration with incumbents and disgust with “politics as usual” has reached record highs. This is an unprecedented situation with profound implications for the future. It is not simply this or that politician or this or that party in the doldrums; the entire system is being questioned. It is in this context that the 2013 elections give us yet another snapshot of the changing mood in America.