LatinNews Daily - 21 October 2021

On 20 October, the conclusions of a senate-led commission of parliamentary inquiry (CPI) that was set up to investigate the response of the Brazilian government led by President Jair Bolsonaro to the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic were publicly presented.... Read More

On 20 October, Colombia’s President Iván Duque insisted that his government will not recognise President Nicolás Maduro’s administration in Venezuela after the senate voted to create a bilateral commission to normalise relations between the two countries.... Read More

* The Peruvian extractive industry lobby Sociedad Nacional de Minería, Petróleo y Energía (SNMPE) has announced that the hydrocarbon sector paid US$749.8m in royalties between January and September this year, representing a 130% increase on the same period in 2020.... Read More

* Brazil’s Economy Minister Paulo Guedes has said that the government may exceed the constitutionally-mandated spending cap in order to fund a new social programme.... Read More

On 20 October the permanent council of the Organization of American States (OAS) approved a strongly worded resolution calling for Nicaragua’s government to release political prisoners and undertake electoral reforms.... Read More

* Honduras’ foreign ministry has informed that Foreign Minister Lisandro Rosales is on an official visit to the United Arab Emirates (UAE) with the aim of seeking out investments.... Read More

In the early hours of 21 October the 2022 fiscal miscellany bill – a collection of tax rules proposed by the finance ministry – was finally approved in Mexico’s lower chamber of congress, after 72 hours of debate, the submission of around 500 amendments, and an outbreak of insults, fighting, and pushing among deputies.... Read More

* Mexico’s foreign and economy ministers, Marcelo Ebrard and Tatiana Clouthier, have held a meeting in the state of Tabasco with the US ambassador to Mexico, Ken Salazar, several governors of southern Mexican states, and US business representatives, to discuss a plan of action to spur development in southern Mexico.... Read More

On 20 October business groups criticised the Argentine government for insufficient consultation, prior to the imposition of a 90-day price freeze on a host of consumption products.... Read More

* Argentina’s energy secretariat has released new figures which show that the country’s oil production has now recovered to pre-coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic levels, and even reached its highest point in five years.... Read More