Weekly Report - 23 July 2020 (WR-20-29)

Chile’s President Sebastián Piñera suffered a profound setback on 22 July when rebel members of his ruling right-of-centre Chile Vamos coalition teamed up with the opposition in the senate to drive through a pension initiative his government had fought tooth and nail.... Read More

Ecuador’s President Lenín Moreno may have ruled out running for re-election in 2021, but his influence is nonetheless likely to be felt strongly in February’s vote.... Read More

One of the most surprising side effects of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic has been the reversal of one of the most significant migration flows in the world in recent years, as large numbers of Venezuelans who have lost their livelihoods in neighbouring countries now seek to return home.... Read More

As President Iván Duque installed a new session of congress on 20 July, much was made of the fact that his opening address was delivered virtually, for the first time in history.... Read More

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro is not yet halfway through his four-year term, but both he and his political opponents appear to be thinking ahead to the 2022 presidential elections already.... Read More

After having initially been successful in containing the spread of coronavirus (Covid-19), Paraguay has recently been facing a surge in new infections, as well as recording new deaths for several consecutive days (overall, fatalities remain in the low double digits).... Read More

“To make a better offer would be to put tomorrow at risk.” This was how Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández responded to a joint counteroffer made by three groups of bondholders this week to the “final” debt restructuring offer presented by his government.... Read More

BRAZIL | Guedes presents tax reform proposal.... Read More

Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador was upstaged in spectacular but sinister fashion on 17 July.... Read More

When Luis Abinader Corona takes office on 16 August after his victory in the Dominican Republic’s presidential elections on 5 July it will be a day of many firsts.... Read More

Nicaragua’s electoral authorities (CSE) have issued a resolution setting the date of 7 November 2021 for general elections and authorising political parties extra time to register due to delays stemming from the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic.... Read More

President Carlos Alvarado recently unveiled what he described as the largest “public spending cut” in Costa Rica’s history in response to the impact of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic which he said was likely to result in a drop in fiscal income of C$1.2trn (US$2bn), or 3.3% of GDP.... Read More

With democracy-related concerns in Guatemala already rife over the election of top judges [WR-20-28], the human rights ombudsman, Jordán Rodas, has warned that President Alejandro Giammattei’s declaration of a state of siege in five municipalities is not “healthy for democratic development”.... Read More

“When a football coach is systematically losing matches; when players ignore him and do whatever they like; when his game plan is failing; when he is bringing no tournaments home, what should the coach do? Resign.... Read More