LatinNews Regional Monitor: Brazil & Southern Cone - 22 October 2018

Development: On 21 October, Brazilians took to the streets in cities across the country to manifest their support for presidential frontrunner Jair Bolsonaro, of the Partido Social Liberal (PSL), one week ahead of the 28 October run-off vote.... Read More

* Brazil and Chile have concluded the fourth and final round of negotiations launched in April for the establishment of a bilateral free-trade agreement, due to be signed in December.... Read More

Development: On 21 October dozens of people took part in a protest march in the city of Concepción, the capital of Paraguay’s eponymous department, calling for the resignation of Mayor Alejandro Urbieta.... Read More

* Paraguay’s public works & communications minister, Arnoldo Wiens, has announced that the government will be taking “legal and financial measures” against Portuguese construction firm Mota Engil over its decision to abandon the works linked to the Metrobús bus rapid transit (BRT) project that is being developed in Paraguay’s capital, Asunción.... Read More

In recent years, crime rates have been rising in a number of key countries in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).... Read More

Brazil’s security forces were deployed on the weekend of 7 October, the date of the first round of the country’s presidential election, to guarantee a smooth and democratic electoral process.... Read More

The Paraguayan authorities successfully thwarted two prison break plans in the first week of October alone, through effective collaboration with Brazil’s security and intelligence forces.... Read More