Weekly Report - 14 May 2015 (WR-15-19)

Pushed against the ropes, Chile’s President Michelle Bachelet has come out swinging, replacing her most senior cabinet ministers, announcing plans for a constitutional reform and rushing out an anti-corruption initiative.... Read More

The new opposition coalition Partido de la Concertación made a creditable showing in the regional and municipal elections on 10 May.... Read More

Describing himself from the outset as a “survivor”, Luiz Edson Fachin, President Dilma Rousseff’s nominee to the federal supreme court (STF), successfully negotiated over 11 hours of grilling by the senate justice and constitution committee (CCJ) on 12 May.... Read More

Following consultations with the Brazilian government in March, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) published a report on 12 May in which it praised the government’s fiscal consolidation efforts, but warned of the need to stick to its targets to restore investor confidence.... Read More

With the end of Kirchnerismo now in sight, the government is making a renewed push to ensure the movement’s influence, particularly within the country’s judiciary, continues beyond 2015, regardless of who wins the elections in October.... Read More

“Beni’s history will begin to change,” was the response by Juan Ramón Quintana, Bolivia’s minister for the presidency and a close ally of President Evo Morales, to the result of the 3 May gubernatorial run-off in the eastern department where the Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS) notched up an unprecedented victory.... Read More

Peru is once again in the grip of a serious anti-mining protest.... Read More

COLOMBIA | Ambev acquires BBC.... Read More

Mexico’s nationally ruling Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) continues to lead voting intentions ahead of the 7 June federal legislative, state and municipal midterm elections, according to the latest polls published in the local media.... Read More

Cuba’s President Raúl Castro is clearly enjoying his new ‘celebrity’ status.... Read More

President François Hollande became just the second French head of state to visit Haiti on 12 May.... Read More

It was arguably just a matter of time.... Read More

PANAMA | Diamond Exchange.... Read More

Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos announced on 9 May the definitive suspension of aerial crop spraying with glyphosate.... Read More

“Chile needs ministers that listen, that dialogue, that take decisions, this is the time for conversing and listening; the time for answers will come [afterwards]… The process of reforms can be gradual and handled prudently; these are not antonyms.” Chile’s new interior minister and cabinet chief Jorge Burgos.... Read More