LatinNews Regional Monitor: Brazil & Southern Cone - 27 September 2019

* Bolivia’s energy minister Rafael Alarcón and Mauro Mendes, the governor of Brazil’s Mato Grosso state, have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for Bolivia to export electricity and potassium chloride, which is used as fertiliser, to Mato Grosso.... Read More

On 26 September, Brazil’s federal supreme court (STF) adjourned a debate about in what order co-defendants in criminal proceedings must testify in court, as six of the 11 justices had already voted in favour of a legal interpretation which could bring into question rulings handed out in the ‘Lava Jato’ corruption investigation.... Read More

* Brazil’s congress has promulgated part of a constitutional amendment (PEC 98/2019) which allows the government to hold a mega tender for the concession of 'pre-salt' deep water oil exploration areas currently held by state-owned oil company Petrobras.... Read More

On 26 September the clear frontrunner in Argentina’s presidential election, Alberto Fernández, provided some insight into the economic policy direction his government will pursue if he takes office in December.... Read More

* Chile’s President Sebastian Piñera presented his government’s proposed 2020 draft budget which is for US$74.17bn, signalling a 3% increase in public spending and 6.8% increase in investment.... Read More

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro stayed true to himself at this year’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York, opening the general debate on 24 September with a combative speech which echoed his aggressive campaign rhetoric and made no attempt to seek conciliation, as some had thought it might.... Read More

It took nearly 20 years to negotiate but the trade deal struck between the European Union (EU) and the Southern Common Market (Mercosur) is in greater danger of unravelling three months on than receiving ratification from member states.... Read More

President Mauricio Macri will visit 30 Argentine cities, one for each remaining day of the electoral campaign, to try and force the presidential contest on 27 October to a second round.... Read More

URUGUAY | Bond issue.... Read More