Trump’s escalation against Venezuela is about more than oil, it is about regaining control over the ‘natural’ zone of influence of the United States at a moment where its hegemony is slipping, argues VIJAY PRASHAD
ON December 21, the Autonomous Region of Catalonia in north-eastern Spain held new parliamentary elections to replace the legislature which had been deposed earlier by decree of the right-wing government in Madrid.
However, the elections resolved nothing, with the electorate still split on the issue of independence from Spain.
The election was scheduled after the Spanish central government in Madrid invoked Article 155 of the 1978 constitution, thereby dissolving the Generalitat, the autonomous regional government of Catalonia, and deposing its leadership.
JOHN CALLOW examines what went wrong for the Czech communist party in the recent parliamentary elections, where it failed to meet the threshold to return deputies and some now talk of the party abandoning its commitment to socialism
Spanish dictator Francisco Franco died 50 years ago today November 20. JIM JUMP looks back at his blood-soaked rule and toxic legacy on Spain today
The desperate French president keeps running up the same political cul-de-sac. DENNIS BROE offers an explanation



