LatinNews Daily

Select archive period:

LatinNews Daily - 28 September 2023

On 27 September Brazil’s senate approved a bill (PL 2903) which has been criticised by human rights advocates as a setback to indigenous land rights, as it aims to enshrine into law the so-called ‘marco temporal’ thesis, recently deemed unconstitutional by the supreme court (STF).

LatinNews Daily - 27 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- MEXICO: Frustration mounts on Ayotzinapa anniversary
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Escalating Guyana dispute sparks protests
- In brief: Trade figures show impact of Colombia-Venezuela border reopening
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro’s former security chief denies coup allegations
- In brief: Brazil to boost pharmaceutical and healthcare industry
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: Chaves to declare state of emergency over migration
- In brief: Costa Rica’s congress moves again to get country off EU grey list
Mexico
- In brief: Mexico brings forward 2025 debt payments
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Massa ramps up spending ahead of election
- In brief: Argentine oil sector given access to preferential exchange rate

On 26 September thousands took to the streets in Mexico City (CDMX) on the ninth anniversary of the disappearance of 43 students from Ayotzinapa rural teacher training college amid further setbacks in the case.

LatinNews Daily - 26 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- ECUADOR: Noboa’s lead narrows as second round campaign begins
Andean
- In brief: IFC increases loan for Nubank’s Colombian operations
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula downplays gender and race as factors in STF pick
- In brief: Brazil’s current account deficit decreases in August
Central America & Caribbean
- CUBA: US condemns attack on Cuban embassy
- In brief: Costa Rica hails medical device manufacturing investment
Mexico
- MEXICO: Security forces deployed to Chiapas
- In brief: US seeks labour rights review at Teklas plant in Mexico
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei blasts Massa over ‘unity’ proposal
- In brief: Pan American Silver divests interest in Argentina mining project

On 25 September the Ecuadorean pollster Comunicaliza released a survey showing Daniel Noboa with an 8.7 percentage point lead over Luisa González ahead of the 15 October second round of the presidential election – down from a 10.1 percentage point lead a week earlier.

LatinNews Daily - 25 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- BOLIVIA: Morales announces 2025 candidacy
Andean
- In brief: Poverty rate falls in Colombia
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Supreme court opens landmark abortion case
- In brief: Carmaker Stellantis launches new investments in Brazil
Central America & Caribbean
- COSTA RICA: Homicide figures pile pressure on Chaves
- In brief: Cuba claims rise in tourism
Mexico
- MEXICO: FGR attacks judiciary
- In brief: Mexico’s growth ticks up
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: JxC signs off with another triumph
- In brief: Argentina highlights drought impact on primary deficit
Washington Watch
- Guyana’s Ali shores up US ties

On 24 September Bolivia’s former president Evo Morales (2006-2019) confirmed that he will be a candidate in the 2025 presidential election, in a move that will deepen the growing rift in the ruling left-wing Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS).

LatinNews Daily - 22 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- BRAZIL: Win for indigenous rights in supreme court trial
Andean
- PERU: Boluarte declares security her top priority
- In brief: IMF warns of liquidity risks in Ecuador’s financial system
Brazil
- In brief: IDB announces sustainable financing programme in Brazil
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele criticised over UNGA speech
- In brief: IMF executive board approves Honduras funds
Mexico
- MEXICO: López Obrador snubs Biden over Apec summit
- In brief: Mexico urged to address US energy and steel concerns
Southern Cone
- URUGUAY: Interior minister rages over escaped drug traffickers
- In brief: Argentina’s trade deficit grows

On 21 September Brazil’s supreme court (STF) voted in favour of indigenous rights in a landmark trial on the so-called ‘time frame thesis’ (marco temporal).

LatinNews Daily - 21 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- HAITI: Gang leader calls for armed overthrow of Henry
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Troops storm Tren de Aragua’s prison stronghold
- In brief: Mining exports rise in Ecuador
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula shores up ties with US and its allies
- In brief: Brazil’s central bank cuts interest rates again
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Panama gov’t ups 2023 GDP growth forecast
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gálvez tarnished by potential plagiarism scandal
- In brief: Experts raise Mexico GDP growth forecast
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Sparks fly between vice-presidential candidates
- In brief: Unemployment drops in Argentina

On 20 September the media reported that the previous day, Haiti’s most powerful gang leader Jimmy ‘Barbecue’ Chérizier had led his supporters through Port-au-Prince, calling for the armed overthrow of caretaker Prime Minister Ariel Henry.

LatinNews Daily - 20 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- COLOMBIA: Ceasefire agreed with EMC dissidents
Andean
- In brief: Guyanese oil auction sparks anger in Venezuela
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula continues calls for peace and climate action at UNGA
- In brief: Another monthly rise in Brazil’s economic activity
Central America & Caribbean
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/HAITI: Speculation mounts over foreign deployment to Haiti
- In brief: Cuba and Venezuela strengthen hydrocarbons cooperation
Mexico
- MEXICO: Ferromex halts rail operations following migrant deaths
- In brief: EU, IDB announce funding to promote sustainable investment in Mexico
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Peña moves Paraguay’s Israel embassy back to Jerusalem
- In brief: Argentina’s GDP contracts in Q2 2023

On 19 September Colombia’s government and the Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest grouping of dissident units of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) guerrilla group, announced that a bilateral ceasefire will come into force on 8 October.

LatinNews Daily - 19 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- GUATEMALA: Domestic and foreign pressure grows on AG
Andean
- PERU: More states of exception as gov’t hones in on insecurity
- In brief: Venezuela to open trade office in Shanghai
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Police to review alleged misconduct during Lava Jato probe
- In brief: Brazil’s gov’t raises GDP growth forecast for 2023
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: New IDB funds for Costa Rica to address climate change
Mexico
- MEXICO: Ebrard announces creation of new political movement
- In brief: Mexico announces financing to meet UN development targets
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Vice President sustains legal blow
- In brief: Paraguay to withdraw full power quota from Yacyretá dam

On 18 September thousands of people took to the streets in Guatemala City and other parts of the country, in support of Guatemala’s president-elect Bernardo Arévalo and his left-of-centre Movimiento Semilla (Semilla), and calling for the resignation of US-sanctioned attorney general (AG) María Consuelo Porras.

LatinNews Daily - 18 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- ARGENTINA: Another Kirchnerista bastion falls
Andean
- COLOMBIA: More exploratory talks with EMC dissidents
- In brief: Peru’s central bank slashes growth forecast
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula seeks to rebuild ties with Cuba
- In brief: Brazil sees record agricultural exports in August
Central America & Caribbean
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele announces new phase of security strategy
- In brief: Dominican gov’t seeks to mitigate border closure impact on traders
Mexico
- MEXICO: El Chapo’s son extradited to US
- In brief: Mexico registers agrifood trade surplus
Southern Cone
- In brief: Argentina to appeal US$16bn YPF ruling
Washington Watch
- Mexico accepts new US labour rights review following rejections

On 17 September Argentina’s traditional right-of-centre opposition Juntos por el Cambio (JxC) triumphed in the gubernatorial elections in the northern province of Chaco, unseating Jorge Capitanich, one of the foremost figures within Kirchnerismo.

LatinNews Daily - 15 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/HAITI: Abinader makes good on border closure threat
Andean
- VENEZUELA: Illegal miners fight back against military crackdown
- In brief: Peru lowers interest rate
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Supreme court sentences three 8 January rioters
- In brief: Brazil announces biofuel legislation
Central America & Caribbean
- In brief: Chaves partially vetoes bill to remove Costa Rica from EU grey list
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t hails recovery of top air safety rating
- In brief: Heineken announces new brewery in southeast Mexico
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Bullrich guns for Kirchnerismo
- In brief: Argentina maintains interest rate despite soaring inflation

On 14 September the Dominican Republic’s President Luis Abinader announced the closure of the country’s border with neighbouring Haiti.

LatinNews Daily - 14 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- VENEZUELA: Maduro meets Xi in China
Andean
- In brief: Peru announces debt-for-nature swap with US
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Supreme court begins trials of 8 January rioters
- In brief: Brazil’s Petrobras announces wind energy projects
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Concerns grow over proposed transparency bill
- In brief: Guyana’s Ali hails bids received for oil and gas blocks
Mexico
- MEXICO: High-ranking member of BLO arrested
- In brief: Mexico budget to ease Pemex liquidity pressures, says Moody's
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Inflation reaches new heights
- In brief: International tourism posts strong growth in Argentina

On 13 September Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro met his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in Beijing, where Xi upgraded China’s relationship with Venezuela to an “all-weather strategic partnership”.

LatinNews Daily - 13 September 2023

Click here for full report

MAIN BRIEFING
- GUATEMALA: Arévalo suspends participation in transition process
ANDEAN
- PERU: UN representative summoned over criticism of congress
- In brief: Venezuela reports rising oil production
BRAZIL
- BRAZIL: Military police says 8 January rioters were ‘organised’
- In brief: Brazil’s inflation rises for second consecutive month
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- In brief: Nicaragua’s central bank hails Q2 2023 GDP growth
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Shootout at Mexico City airport sparks security concerns
- In brief: Concerns raised over Mexico’s 2024 budget proposal
SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA/PARAGUAY: Tensions rise over waterway and Yacyretá dam
- In brief: Paraguay’s Peña proposes bill to reorder public finances

On 12 September Guatemala’s President-elect Bernardo Arévalo of the left-of-centre Movimiento Semilla (Semilla) announced he was suspending his participation in the transition process.

LatinNews Daily - 12 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- CHILE: Boric leads coup commemoration boycotted by right
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Coca cultivation at all-time high
- In brief: Venezuela’s Maduro secures Chinese cooperation on SEZs
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Gov’t calls for protection of Cerrado biome
- In brief: Brazil’s Lula urges meeting on EU-Mercosur deal
Central America & Caribbean
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC/HAITI: Abinader threatens to close border
- In brief: IMF hails Guyana growth
Mexico
- MEXICO: Gov’t defends 2024 budget proposal
- In brief: International tourism continues to grow in Mexico
Southern Cone
- In brief: Argentina’s Massa announces tax breaks

On 11 September Chile’s President Gabriel Boric addressed a ceremony attended by heads of state and other dignitaries in the La Moneda presidential palace in Santiago to mark the 50th anniversary since the military coup that toppled Salvador Allende (1970-1973) and ushered in a 17-year dictatorship under General Augusto Pinochet.

LatinNews Daily - 11 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- COLOMBIA: Gov’t unveils new drugs strategy
Andean
- In brief: Venezuela’s Maduro visits China
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Ukraine divisions loom over G20 summit
- In brief: Brazil’s Eletrobras sells final coal-fired power plant
Central America & Caribbean
- PANAMA: Gov’t announces new migration measures
- In brief: Honduras gov’t unveils 2024 budget proposal
Mexico
- MEXICO: Ebrard on the offensive
- In brief: Mexico’s finance ministry presents draft 2024 budget
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Opposition JxC sweeps to power in Santa Fe
- In brief: Paraguay receives regional backing over Argentina waterway toll
Washington Watch
- US advises citizens to leave Haiti

On 9 September the Colombian government published its new counternarcotics strategy, with President Gustavo Petro calling on Latin American nations to re-think the militarised war on drugs.

LatinNews Daily - 08 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- MEXICO: Rights groups hail landmark abortion ruling
Andean
- PERU: UN concern as congress investigates judicial council
- In brief: Monthly inflation continues to rise in Colombia
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula underlines democracy, unity on Independence Day
- In brief: Brazil mobilises financial support for flood victims
Central America & Caribbean
- HAITI: Colombian former officer pleads guilty in Moïse murder plot
- In brief: Costa Rica posts highest August deflation in five years
Mexico
- In brief: Mexico’s inflation continues to slow year-on-year
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Massa forecasts inflationary surge
- In brief: Argentina’s industrial production, construction down year-on-year

On 7 September the United Nations (UN) High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) Volker Türk celebrated a ruling issued by Mexico’s supreme court (SCJN) the previous day to decriminalise abortion at a federal level.

LatinNews Daily - 07 September 2023

Click here for full report

MAIN BRIEFING
- MEXICO: Sheinbaum takes Morena’s presidential ticket
ANDEAN
- PERU: Six ministers replaced in cabinet reshuffle
- In brief: Peru’s gov’t submits 2024 budget proposal to congress
BRAZIL
- BRAZIL: Conservative parties gain cabinet seats
- In brief: Brazil registers record grain production for 2022/23
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- PANAMA: Debates continue over new mining contract amid protests
- In brief: Guatemala joins South Korea-Central America FTA
MEXICO
- In brief: Mexico hails increased tax take
SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Polarisation grows over coup anniversary
- In brief: Chile’s central bank lowers GDP growth forecast

On 6 September Claudia Sheinbaum won the internal contest to become the 2024 presidential candidate for Mexico’s ruling Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (Morena).

LatinNews Daily - 06 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- BRAZIL: Lula steps up pro-indigenous and environmental protection efforts
Andean
- COLOMBIA: Congress keeps health reform alive
- In brief: Steep increase in Venezuela’s monthly inflation, says think tank
Brazil
- In brief: Brazil’s industrial production drops in July
Central America & Caribbean
- GUATEMALA: Transition process underway
- In brief: El Salvador to forge alliance with Google
Mexico
- MEXICO: Protests over upcoming abortion rulings
- In brief: Mexico reports job creation in August
Southern Cone
- PARAGUAY: Peña names Itaipú negotiating team
- In brief: Chile further reduces interest rates

On 5 September Brazil’s President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced a series of measures aimed at protecting the Amazon rainforest and supporting indigenous rights, such as granting legal recognition to two indigenous territories (TIs).

LatinNews Daily - 05 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- COLOMBIA: ELN talks progress towards humanitarian action
Andean
- In brief: Colombia’s gov’t and industry urge drop in interest rates
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Police arrest suspected killers of quilombola leader
- In brief: Brazil’s vehicle sales drop in August
Central America & Caribbean
- HONDURAS: Failure to appoint new AG draws concern
- In brief: El Salvador gov’t debt deal with banking association draws concern
Mexico
- MEXICO: Tren Maya handed over to Sedena
- In brief: Gross fixed investment surges in Mexico
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Milei’s running mate hosts controversial event
- In brief: Paraguay’s inflation rate continues to drop

On 4 September negotiating teams representing the Colombian government and the Ejército de Liberación Nacional (ELN) guerrilla group concluded the fourth round of talks held in Caracas. Analysis:

LatinNews Daily - 04 September 2023

Click here for full report

MAIN BRIEFING
- MEXICO: López Obrador delivers Informe as end of term looms
ANDEAN
- ECUADOR: New threats target presidential hopeful
- In brief: Peru mining firm announces major investment plan
BRAZIL
- BRAZIL: Corruption probe implicates Lula’s communications minister
- In brief: Brazil posts lower GDP growth for Q2
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Coup d’état in motion, Arévalo says
- In brief: Dominican Republic cuts benchmark interest rate
MEXICO
- In brief: Private sector raises growth forecast in Mexico
SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Coup anniversary fuels political tensions
- In brief: Chile registers positive growth after months of decline
WASHINGTON WATCH
- US declassifies documents related to Chile coup

On 1 September Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador presented his fifth annual state-of-the-nation report (Informe) from Campeche state.

LatinNews Daily - 01 September 2023

Click here for full report

Main Briefing
- COLOMBIA: Gov’t in exploratory talks with EMC
Andean
- In brief: Colombia’s unemployment edges up
Brazil
- BRAZIL: Lula’s former security chief testifies before congress
- In brief: Brazil’s gov’t submits 2024 budget proposal to congress
Central America & Caribbean
- GUATEMALA: Semilla’s suspension draws growing condemnation
- In brief: China and Nicaragua sign FTA
Mexico
- MEXICO: Backlash over flight cuts at CDMX airport
- In brief: Unemployment in Mexico rises in July
Southern Cone
- ARGENTINA: Bullrich unveils pick for economy minister
- In brief: Chile reports decrease in industrial production

On 31 August representatives of the Colombian government led by President Gustavo Petro and Estado Mayor Central (EMC), the largest grouping of dissident units of the Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (Farc) guerrilla group, began four days of exploratory discussions at an undisclosed location “in the mountains of Cauca [department]”.