Weekly Report - 29 February 2024 (WR-24-08)

At one stage this week it looked as if oil and gas supplies to Argentina might be cut by the south-eastern province of Chubut such was the fury of its governor at the decision by the federal government to withhold funding and subsequent taunting by President Javier Milei on social media.... Read More

There were further signs this week that the Venezuelan government is preparing for a return of US sanctions and will not take the necessary steps to avoid such an outcome.... Read More

Ecuador’s President Daniel Noboa confirmed on 25 February that he will seek re-election next year, saying that “more time is needed” to deliver on his promises to tackle insecurity and bring Ecuador back from the fiscal precipice.... Read More

The bitter infighting within Bolivia’s ruling left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) engendered by the determination of former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) to run for top office yet again took a new turn this week.... Read More

The permanent commission of Peru’s congress voted on 26 February to impeach the judicial council (JNJ) in an eminently politicised process.... Read More

Thousands of right-wing demonstrators rallied on 25 February in the city of São Paulo to show support for former president Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2023), who is under investigation for alleged involvement in a coup conspiracy.... Read More

A large contingent of state military police of Rio de Janeiro launched a raid on favelas dominated by the powerful criminal organisation Comando Vermelho (CV) on 27 February.... Read More

ARGENTINA | IMF backs Milei.... Read More

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has come in for widespread criticism after he revealed the phone number of a New York Times (NYT) journalist during a press conference on 22 February.... Read More

The official campaign period for Mexico’s three presidential candidates begins on 1 March.... Read More

MEXICO | AWS announces major investment.... Read More

When President Luis Abinader stood up to deliver his annual state-of-the-nation address to congress on 27 February to mark Independence Day in the Dominican Republic, there were a number of empty seats.... Read More

The first debate between presidential candidates ahead of Panama’s elections on 5 May has taken place, although headlines were as much dominated by who did not attend as the exchange itself.... Read More

Haiti’s ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Léon Charles, a former police (PNd’H) chief (2004-2005; 2020-2021), has become the first high-profile figure to step down after his name appeared on a list of some 50 individuals indicted by local judge Walther Wesser Voltaire in relation to the July 2021 assassination of president Jovenel Moïse (2017-2021).... Read More

Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro has summarily dismissed the secretary general of the foreign affairs ministry, José Antonio Salazar, who he accused of betrayal on 26 February for awarding a contract to the multinational Thomas Greg & Sons to print passports.... Read More

“It is not a joke, a game, a Netflix series.... Read More