Latin American Weekly Report
Weekly Report - 15 December 2022 (WR-22-50)
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- Peru heading towards early elections as protests rage
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: First agreement reached in ELN talks
- VENEZUELA: Maduro’s son dampens hopes for constructive dialogue
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE-BOLIVIA: ICJ issues non-ruling favouring Chile
- CHILE: Parties strike accord over new constitution
- BRAZIL: Lula’s new cabinet taking shape
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Surge in crossings at US-Mexico border
- MEXICO: Guadiana to run again for Morena in Coahuila
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: Concerns build over state of exception
- COSTA RICA: Chaves presents national development plan
POSTSCRIPT
- Mexico and US mark bicentenary of friendship
- Quotes of the year
- Publishing note
Peru’s President Dina Boluarte announced a 30-day nationwide state of emergency on 14 December in response to fatal protests that erupted in several regions in the south and north of the country over the impeachment of Pedro Castillo by congress after his attempted self-coup last week.
Weekly Report - 08 December 2022 (WR-22-49)
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- Castillo impeached and arrested after attempted self-coup backfires
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Pledge to release imprisoned protesters riles opposition
- VENEZUELA: Further details on humanitarian programme
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Fernández slams judiciary over Cristina corruption conviction
- BRAZIL: Lula in intense negotiations over new cabinet
- URUGUAY/REGION: Differences laid bare at Mercosur summit
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Minimum wage hike announced
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Acquittal of former First Lady raises eyebrows
- CUBA: New criminal code sets off alarm bells
POSTSCRIPT
- Costa Rica clamps down on migrants
- Quotes of the week
Peru’s long-running political crisis finally came to a climax on 7 December when President Pedro Castillo, just hours before deputies were scheduled to subject him to a third impeachment vote, announced to the nation that he was temporarily dissolving congress, calling fresh legislative elections, and reorganising the judiciary.
Weekly Report - 01 December 2022 (WR-22-48)
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- Venezuelan talks back on and sanctions eased
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Protesters stand down in Santa Cruz
- PERU: Congress makes fresh bid to impeach Castillo
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- PARAGUAY: Supreme court rocked by scandal
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro isolated and short of options
- ARGENTINA: Bonafini’s passing exposes political rift
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: López Obrador showcases popularity
- MEXICO: US threatens legal action over biotech corn ban
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Díaz-Canel on tour
- HONDURAS: Castro moves on crime
POSTSCRIPT
- ELN peace talks commence in Venezuela
- Quotes of the week
More than a year after the previous attempt at dialogue collapsed in acrimony, Venezuela’s government and opposition reached an agreement on 26 November to request access to frozen assets abroad in order to address the social and humanitarian crises afflicting the country.
Weekly Report - 24 November 2022 (WR-22-47)
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- Colombia’s Petro makes major strides on campaign pledges
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: OAS conducts visit amid heightened tensions
- ECUADOR: Struggling to respond to drug violence
- VENEZUELA: Opposition prepares for primaries
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Uncertainty about Lula’s key economic policies rattle markets
- ARGENTINA: Navigating through a storm
MEXICO
- MEXICO: More Tren Maya trouble
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele unwavering on bitcoin
- GUATEMALA: ‘Electoral’ budget approved
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Pacific Alliance summit postponed
- Quotes of the week
In the same week that he marked his first 100 days in office, Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro celebrated major progress on two key pledges in his campaign manifesto.
Weekly Report - 17 November 2022 (WR-22-46)
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- Brazil and Mexico re-join global fight against climate change
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Castillo’s survival hanging in the balance
- BOLIVIA: Santa Cruz standoff no closer to resolution
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Military statements spark controversy
- PARAGUAY: Census debacle seized on for electoral purposes
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Morena defiant in face of electoral reform protests
- MEXICO: Wave of violence sweeps Guanajuato
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Stepping up sanctions
- GUATEMALA: Another high-profile judge quits and leaves
- EL SALVADOR: Renewed concerns of selective justice
POSTSCRIPT
- Boric makes gesture to Mapuche in Chile’s conflict-torn south
- Quotes of the week
The first international trip of president-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva this week signposted a stark impending change in Brazil’s position on climate change - especially the issue of deforestation of the Amazon - when he succeeds President Jair Bolsonaro on 1 January.
Weekly Report - 10 November 2022 (WR-22-45)
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- Consolidating a one-party state in Nicaragua
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Congress approves “most progressive reform in history”
- ECUADOR: Security meltdown prompts harsh measures
- PERU: Castillo turns to brinkmanship as troubles mount
- BOLIVIA: Protests widen cracks in ruling MAS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Boric buoyed by congressional result
- URUGUAY: Lacalle Pou seals Japan trade breakthrough
- BRAZIL: Lula focuses on social promises and climate change agenda
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Pro-INE demonstration gathers momentum
- MEXICO: Femicide investigations face scrutiny
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Chaves foreign debt warning raises eyebrows
POSTSCRIPT
- Cristina Fernández back in the spotlight
- Quotes of the week
“This is the first time in our country’s history that the public voted thinking of their families’ well-being and not of political parties…convinced that there is no other course than that of voting for the Frente Sandinista.” This was President Daniel Ortega’s response to the 6 November municipal elections in Nicaragua which produced a clean sweep for his party, taking all 153 municipalities, up from 135 in the previous 2017 election.
Weekly Report - 03 November 2022 (WR-22-44)
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- Lula faces challenge to unite Brazil after edging Bolsonaro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA-VENEZUELA: Petro meets Maduro
- ECUADOR: Corruption probe forces ministerial shakeup
- PERU: Corruption claims another ministerial scalp
- BOLIVIA: Export restrictions backfire
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Battle looming over 2023 primary elections
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Doubts cast on Ayotzinapa evidence
- MEXICO: Government clashes with Calderón
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Violence overshadows voodoo festival
- EL SALVADOR: Security reforms raise concerns
POSTSCRIPT
- Environmental activist killing sparks concerns in Mexico
- Quotes of the week
The most polarised electoral process in Brazil’s recent history concluded on 30 October with former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2011) of the left-wing Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) winning 50.9% of the vote to 49.1% for President Jair Bolsonaro of the right-wing Partido Liberal (PL).
Weekly Report - 27 October 2022 (WR-22-43)
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- Opposition divisions resurface in Venezuela
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: ‘Indefinite’ strike gets underway in Santa Cruz
- COLOMBIA: Potential cocaine production hits record high
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Brazil braces for election unlike any other
- PARAGUAY: Another blow delivered to insurgent armed groups
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Debate continues around electoral reform
- MEXICO: Advances for LGBTI rights
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Race for the presidency begins
- GUATEMALA: Fears mount over comptroller pick
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- More signs of Cuban cooperation with US
- Quotes of the week
Venezuela’s opposition leader Juan Guaidó, already battling slipping international support for his claim to be the country’s legitimate president, is now facing widening fissures within his fractious Plataforma Unitaria Democrática (PUD) coalition.
Weekly Report - 20 October 2022 (WR-22-42)
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- Massa grapples with economic challenges in Argentina
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- BOLIVIA: Arce feeling the heat
- PERU: Castillo comes out fighting
- ECUADOR: Indigenous dialogue wrapped up
- COLOMBIA: Petro advancing with ‘total peace’
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: No winner in debate, but Bolsonaro endures tough week
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Violence – a state or federal issue?
- MEXICO: Turbulent times at the economy ministry
- MEXICO: Venezuelan migrant programme sparks criticism
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: Key alliance unravels
- EL SALVADOR: New ombudsman fails to quell concerns
- HAITI: Debate continues over international military deployment
POSTSCRIPT
- Boric’s slump deepens
- Quotes of the week
At the present rate Argentina could have over a dozen different exchange rates before the year is out.
Weekly Report - 13 October 2022 (WR-22-41)
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- Petro makes major breakthrough on land reform
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Political crisis escalates
- ECUADOR: Prison system rocked by further massacres
- VENEZUELA: UN maintains pressure over human rights
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: All-out war for votes breaks out
- ARGENTINA: Fernández forced to ring the changes
- CHILE: Senate approves revamped Trans-Pacific Partnership
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Shake-up at the economy ministry
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Demands grow for foreign armed intervention
- CUBA: Fallout of hurricane Ian becomes clearer
POSTSCRIPT
- Political violence surges in Mexico
- Quotes of the week
President Gustavo Petro signed a ground-breaking accord this week in his concerted efforts to address the vexed issue of land reform in Colombia, which lies at the heart of the country’s long-running armed conflict.
Weekly Report - 06 October 2022 (WR-22-40)
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- Brazil’s election demonstrates resilience of Bolsonarismo
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Regional movements consign national parties to defeat
- BOLIVIA: Opposition fumes at MAS chicanery
- COLOMBIA: Blinken plays down disagreements with US
- VENEZUELA: Coming in from the cold?
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Internal tensions threaten opposition unity
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: New spying scandal emerges
- MEXICO: Hackers reveal Sedena’s power – and weakness
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Tensions deepen with EU and US
- GUATEMALA: TSE stokes transparency concerns ahead of elections
POSTSCRIPT
- Raging inferno causes electoral furore in Paraguay
- Quotes of week
All opinion polls conducted by widely recognised research institutes in Brazil suggested that former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (2003-2011) of the leftist Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT) would win with a comfortable advantage of 10-17 percentage points over President Jair Bolsonaro, from the Partido Liberal (PL), in the elections on 2 October.
Weekly Report - 29 September 2022 (WR-22-39)
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- Border reopening signals thaw in Colombo-Venezuelan relations
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Voter apathy prevails ahead of elections
- ECUADOR: Femicide scandal topples interior minister
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Tensions rise ahead of election
- CHILE: Hackers cause military headache
- ARGENTINA: Supreme court reform triggers fierce debate
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Justice remains distant on Ayotzinapa anniversary
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Government moves against another critic
- CUBA: LGBTI rights activists hail 'historic' referendum on family code
- PANAMA: Former presidents charged in major corruption case
POSTSCRIPT
- Lacalle Pou’s security supremo arrested
- Quotes of the week
Seven years after Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro closed the Colombia-Venezuela border to vehicle traffic, his Colombian counterpart, President Gustavo Petro, stood on the Simón Bolívar international bridge on 26 September to watch the first lorries cross into Venezuela since 2015.
Weekly Report - 22 September 2022 (WR-22-38)
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- UN report outlines ‘crimes against humanity’ propping up Maduro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro makes radical break with the past
- PERU: Palace raided again
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Frontrunners scrambling for votes
- URUGUAY: Opposition blasts Lacalle Pou for tobacco reform
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Peace proposal sparks backlash
- MEXICO: Military arrested in Ayotzinapa case
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele confirms re-election bid
- HAITI: More civil unrest
POSTSCRIPT
- Ecuador’s wave of violence hits prosecutors
- Quotes from the UN General Assembly
A damning United Nations report accused Venezuela’s security forces this week of systematically engaging in “crimes against humanity” in order to crush opposition to the Bolivarian government led by President Nicolás Maduro.
Weekly Report - 15 September 2022 (WR-22-37)
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- Ecuador's Lasso suffers major setback to oil and mining plans
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro puts regions centre stage
- BOLIVIA: Coca leader arrested following arson attack
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: A politicised bicentennial
- ARGENTINA: Massa’s ‘success’ overshadowed by surge in inflation
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Differences put aside as Blinken visits Mexico
- MEXICO: Optimistic 2023 budget proposal draws criticism
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- ENGLISH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN: Queen’s passing could provide republican impetus
- CUBA: Migration drives more US talks
- GUATEMALA: Doubts over government’s declared priority
POSTSCRIPT
- Dialogue breaks down over new constitutional process in Chile
- Quotes of the week
Little over a year after he took office with a pledge to galvanise Ecuador’s economy by kickstarting an oil and mining boom, President Guillermo Lasso’s plans for these sectors appear to lie in tatters.
Weekly Report - 08 September 2022 (WR-22-36)
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- Boric shifts to the centre as Chileans reject constitution
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Early setback for ‘total peace’, but boost in congress
- PERU: Political turbulence on all sides
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Lula pledges restart for Amazon, self-rule for indigenous
- ARGENTINA: Fernández survives assassination attempt
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Challenges absent from optimistic Informe
- MEXICO: Opposition unravels over national guard militarisation
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Chaves sacks first minister
- HONDURAS: Castro under pressure over key pledge
POSTSCRIPT
- Corruption allegations hit Bolivia’s highways authority
- Quotes of the week
Chile’s President Gabriel Boric suffered a body blow on 4 September when voters emphatically rejected a draft constitution drawn up by the constitutional convention in a national referendum.
Weekly Report - 01 September 2022 (WR-22-35)
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- Colombia: peace and other problems
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- REGION: Andean Community broadens its horizons
- PERU: Castillo turns on police leadership following palace raid
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Government bracing for bad news on referendum
- CHILE: Boric sacks first minister
- ARGENTINA: Rodríguez Larreta goes head-to head with Cristina
- BRAZIL: Machismo, corruption, and the economy kick off debates
- BRAZIL: Foreign affairs emerge in election debate
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Criminal groups sow disorder in Zacatecas
- MEXICO: Victims’ families demand progress
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Government reassures over relations with Taipei
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Henry faces renewed calls to quit in Haiti
- Quotes of the week
Colombia’s President Gustavo Petro, enjoying a political honeymoon period, is pressing ahead with his plans for peace negotiations.
Weekly Report - 25 August 2022 (WR-22-34)
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- Peruvian rebel released amid political crisis
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Mixed signals on human rights
- COLOMBIA: Petro outlines security priorities
- BOLIVIA: Coca showdown in La Paz
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: PJ rallies behind Vice President Fernández
- PARAGUAY: US corruption claims cause commotion
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro beginning to feel boost
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Breakthrough in Ayotzinapa case – but how big?
- MEXICO: State lithium company officially created
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Another critical voice leaves the country
- COSTA RICA: Chaves stokes controversy with 100-day balance sheet
POSTSCRIPT
- Uruguayan government embarrassed by drug trafficker
- Quotes of the week
As if Peru’s political drama were not compelling enough already, one more actor joined the cast this week: Antauro Humala walked out of the Ancón II prison in northern Lima.
Weekly Report - 18 August 2022 (WR-22-33)
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- Mexican cartel violence sweeps across five states
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro moves to unpick Duque’s legacy on Venezuela and ELN
- PERU: Castillo clashes with congress
- ECUADOR: Guayaquil bombing highlights escalation of gang war
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Religious war breaks out
- ARGENTINA: Massa’s segmentation scheme unveiled
- PARAGUAY: Ruling Colorados dealt twin corruption blow
- CHILE: Last-ditch effort to save constitution
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Oil facility fire sparks further difficulties for government
- EL SALVADOR: Human rights concerns persist over state of emergency
POSTSCRIPT
- Intensifying attacks against Church in Nicaragua
- Quotes of the week
Weekly Report - 11 August 2022 (WR-22-32)
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- Colombia embarks on new chapter under Petro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Castillo hits new nadir
- ECUADOR: Government defies verdict ordering Glas’ release
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Massa consolidates control
- BRAZIL: Elites rethink support for Bolsonaro
- BRAZIL: Mixed economic signs for the election
MEXICO
- MEXICO: National guard debate intensifies
- MEXICO: ‘Remain in Mexico’ is no more
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Giammattei expands efforts to silence critics
POSTSCRIPT
- Opposition sweeps to power in St Kitts & Nevis
- Quotes of the week
Gustavo Petro was sworn in on 7 August as Colombia’s 34th head of state.
Weekly Report - 04 August 2022 (WR-22-31)
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- All eyes on Massa in Argentina
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Storm clouds ahead as Castillo marks his first year in office
- COLOMBIA: Closer focus on peace moves
- BOLIVIA: Arce facing simultaneous protests
- VENEZUELA: Maduro’s claim to Bank of England gold rejected
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Lula’s mixed bag of economic policies
- CHILE: Pressure in the north
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Federal gov’t ups efforts to tackle water crisis
- MEXICO: López Obrador bullish on economic outlook despite challenges
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Broadening the crackdown
POSTSCRIPT
- El Salvador’s Bukele moves to quell fears of default
- Quotes of the week
Sergio Massa’s moment has come.
Weekly Report - 28 July 2022 (WR-22-30)
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- US shakes up Paraguayan politics
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro seeks “total peace”
- PERU: Pacheco’s surrender raises pressure on Castillo
- VENEZUELA: Communists denounce crackdown
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro kicks off campaign with a boost
- CHILE: Government accused of taking sides in referendum
- ARGENTINA: Ministerial reshuffle - again
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Former Veracruz attorney general arrested
- MEXICO: Congress discusses potential electoral reform
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS-REGION: Updated ‘Engel List’ strains relations with US
POSTSCRIPT
- Uruguay’s China deal fuels Mercosur tensions
- Quotes of the week
A bolt from the blue could potentially reshape Paraguayan politics and the fight against organised crime.
Weekly Report - 21 July 2022 (WR-22-29)
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- US-Mexico relations rocky despite Caro Quintero capture
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Castillo’s cabinet carousel
- ECUADOR: Conaie extracts concessions on loans and debt
- COLOMBIA: Another hammer blow to Farc dissidents
- BOLIVIA: Áñez launches appeal
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Burying the hatchet…in the supreme court
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro diplomatic initiative backfires
- PARAGUAY: Abdo Benítez strikes blow against Cartes
- CHILE: Alternative approach adopted
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Courts push back at resource nationalism
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Doubling down on protest anniversary
- PANAMA: Government concessions fail to quell protests
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Cost-saving measures spark controversy in Costa Rica
- Quotes of the week
The capture of Rafael Caro Quintero, the long-pursued founder of the now-defunct Guadalajara drug trafficking organisation (DTO) on 15 July, seemed like the perfect opportunity for Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador to tout the success of bilateral security cooperation with the US.
Weekly Report - 14 July 2022 (WR-22-28)
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- Brazil’s election race rocked by violence
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro sends message with US ambassadorial pick
- PERU: Castillo’s family embroiled in corruption
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Uneasy economic truce
- BRAZIL: Election dynamics fuel Amazon destruction
- CHILE: Boric presents big reforms
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Much left unsaid as López Obrador meets Biden
- MEXICO: PRI infighting heats up
- MEXICO: Church ups criticism of security strategy
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- PANAMA: Cortizo on back foot as protests proliferate
- NICARAGUA: Press watchdogs denounce new wave of persecution
- HAITI: Political stalemate persists
POSTSCRIPT
- Uruguay’s government confronts strike and Covid ruling
- Quotes of the week
Even before President Jair Bolsonaro took office, political violence had taken centre stage in Brazil.
Weekly Report - 07 July 2022 (WR-22-27)
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- Argentine economy minister walks amid internal tensions
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro forges formidable coalition
- ECUADOR: Lasso makes major concessions to end protests
- BOLIVIA: Another push for coca industrialisation
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Voters suffer buyer’s remorse over constitution
- BRAZIL: Lula tells military to back off
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: A step towards energy self-sufficiency?
- MEXICO: Ebrard embarks on Asia tour
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Ortega deals further blow to municipal autonomy
- HONDURAS: PN decries political persecution
POSTSCRIPT
- Congress closes in on Castillo
- Quotes of the week
Argentina is trapped in a vicious circle where economic travails fuel political infighting within the ruling coalition which, in turn, creates more economic adversity.
Weekly Report - 30 June 2022 (WR-22-26)
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- Wounded Lasso escapes impeachment but protests persist
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Progress in search for truth and reconciliation
- VENEZUELA: US officials back in Caracas for secretive talks
- PERU: Castillo snubs corruption hearing
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Petrobras caves in to political pressure
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro selects his mirror image as running mate
- ARGENTINA: Fernández gets IMF boost ahead of G-7 trip
- CHILE: No respite for Boric
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Nuevo León water crisis piles pressure on governor
- MEXICO: Migrant tragedy prompts fierce response
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Economic recovery hopes dim
- HAITI: Gang occupation of top court highlights dire security situation
- COSTA RICA-NICARAGUA: Chaves under pressure over Sica appointment
POSTSCRIPT
- Opposition denies Mitchell sixth term in Grenada
- Quotes of the week
Ecuador’s President Guillermo Lasso narrowly survived an impeachment attempt on 28 June after opposition legislators accused his government of mishandling social protests that have raged for over two weeks.
Weekly Report - 23 June 2022 (WR-22-25)
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- Petro takes Colombia into uncharted waters
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Anti-government protests intensify
- BOLIVIA: International community weighs in on Áñez verdict
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The noose tightens around Petrobras
- ARGENTINA: Internal power struggle deepens
- PARAGUAY: Opposition unites against ruling Colorados
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Divisions widen within Morena
- MEXICO: Jesuit killings highlight security challenges
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: More independent judicial operators under threat
- PANAMA: Charges thrown out in high-profile case
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Chile’s Boric faces copper strike
- Quotes of the week
For the first time in history Colombia will have an out-and-out left-wing president in August after Gustavo Petro defeated his populist rival, Rodolfo Hernández, in the second round of elections on 19 June.
Weekly Report - 16 June 2022 (WR-22-24)
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- López Obrador and Bolsonaro win at the Summit
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro and Hernández make final push
- PERU: Castillo celebrates Las Bambas breakthrough
- ECUADOR: Indigenous protesters mobilise against Lasso
- BOLIVIA: Áñez sentenced to 10 years for ‘coup’
- VENEZUELA: Maduro drums up support in the Middle East
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA-REGION: Emtrasur flights stir a media-feeding frenzy
- BRAZIL: Two murders throw spotlight on Amazon
MEXICO
- MEXICO: PRI old guard turns on Moreno
- MEXICO: Mysteries abound over Manzanillo port robbery
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Defiant Ortega doubles down
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC-HAITI: Relations strained after wires crossed
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Bolivia and Paraguay make show of unity over bi-oceanic links
- Quotes of the week
It could be argued that there were two winners at the much-anticipated Summit of the Americas (SoA), hosted by the US from 6-10 June.
Weekly Report - 09 June 2022 (WR-22-23)
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- Morena sweeps to fresh electoral victory
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Cautious opening to second round
- ECUADOR: Llori’s downfall increases risk of legislative gridlock
- BOLIVIA: MAS divisions deepen
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Fernández hangs minister out to dry to placate CFK
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro wrestles with inflation
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele marks three years in office
- HONDURAS: Killing by security forces reignites familiar concerns
- DOMINICAN REPUBLIC: Minister’s murder throws spotlight on gun crime
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- López Obrador skips Summit of Americas
- Quotes of the week
In the space of just eight years Mexico’s left-wing Movimiento Regeneración Nacional (Morena) has risen to supplant the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI) whose state-level dominance stretched back nearly a century.
Weekly Report - 01 June 2022 (WR-22-22)
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- Colombia braces for populist clash in presidential run-off
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Castillo faces criminal charges
- PERU: Labour and social conflict levels remain high
- VENEZUELA: Early start to a long presidential race
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: New poll good news for Lula
- BRAZIL: Pushback against institutionalised police violence
- CHILE: Boric’s approval rate still heading south
- ARGENTINA: Micropolitics offers a glimpse of the future
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Tensions high ahead of gubernatorial elections
- MEXICO: Self-supply permits in the firing line
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Ortega intensifies campaign against the Church
- THE BAHAMAS: Ruling PLP presents bold budget
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Extreme weather strikes again in Brazil
- Quotes of the week
Colombians want change.
Weekly Report - 26 May 2022 (WR-22-21)
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- Hernández threatens to upend Colombian presidential race
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Reshuffle unlikely to offer quick Las Bambas fix
- ECUADOR: Supreme court president suspended
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: High-risk police operations in Rio and São Paulo
- BRAZIL: Another Petrobras chief executive hits the dust
- ARGENTINA: Guzmán stronger but more vulnerable
- URUGUAY: Lacalle Pou pays visit to UK
- CHILE: Boric offers business an olive branch
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Outrage over activist killing
- MEXICO: Concerns raised over Title 42 continuation
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Alleged dealings with gangs back under scrutiny
- COSTA RICA: Chaves faces unexpected challenge
POSTSCRIPT
- Santokhi strengthens Suriname’s standing
- Quotes of the week
As the presidential race enters the closing straight, a major upset is looking like a distinct possibility.
Weekly Report - 19 May 2022 (WR-22-20)
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- Boric’s torrid start gets even worse
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Government-opposition talks back on as US eases sanctions
- COLOMBIA: Candidates go into overdrive as campaign winds up
- PERU: Student protests set to strain Castillo-congress relations
- ECUADOR : Troubled SolGold looks to expand in mining sector
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro cultivates the farm vote
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Cuban medical assistance prompts pushback
- MEXICO: Investing in the border
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Giammattei ends speculation over attorney general
- HONDURAS: Castro marks first 100 days
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Organised crime strikes again against Paraguayan authorities
- Quotes of the week
The well-meaning but improvised attempt by the government led by President Gabriel Boric to resolve a longstanding conflict with the indigenous Mapuche came to an abrupt end on 16 May when the interior minister, Izkia Siches, decreed a state of exception in two regions in southern Chile.
Weekly Report - 12 May 2022 (WR-22-19)
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- Peru becomes byword for political unpredictability
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Clan del Golfo bares its teeth
- ECUADOR: Gangs undeterred by state of exception
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Friendly fire intensifies
- BRAZIL: Politics of debt could play big in elections
- BRAZIL: Anger over accounts of “disappearing” Yanomami
- PARAGUAY: Beach murder causes shockwaves
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Air safety under scrutiny in Mexico City
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Chaves takes office, stokes controversy with initial moves
- NICARAGUA: Crackdown continues
POSTSCRIPT
- Dominicans demand police reform
- Quotes of the week
Peru has hardly been renowned for political stability in recent years, but since President Pedro Castillo took office in July last year scarcely a day has gone by without some new incident heightening political uncertainty.
Weekly Report - 05 May 2022 (WR-22-18)
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- Lula missteps could provide Bolsonaro with opening
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA-REGION: Maduro looks to capitalise on high oil prices
- COLOMBIA: Petro warns of assassination plot
- ECUADOR: Pacifying the coast
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Ruling coalition consumed by infighting
- CHILE: Growth and inflation head in wrong direction
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Violence erupts on Jalisco-Michoacán border
- MEXICO: Ebrard goes to Washington
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- ENGLISH-SPEAKING CARIBBEAN: Colonial legacy comes in for criticism
- HAITI: Resurgence in gang violence sparks concerns
- CUBA: Government hails May Day march
POSTSCRIPT
- Moving on cryptocurrency
- Quotes of the week
Brazil’s former president Lula da Silva (2003-2011) is due to formally launch his presidential election campaign on 7 May.
Weekly Report - 28 April 2022 (WR-22-17)
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- Gutiérrez’s ‘moderation’ could be winning tactic against Petro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Combating corruption, a deferred priority
- ECUADOR: Lasso takes on ‘cowardly’ judges
- PERU: Castillo finally acts on promise of new constitution
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Violence increases pressure on Boric
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro seeks to energise his base
- BRAZIL: Brazilian right celebrates Twitter takeover
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Gender violence in the spotlight
- MEXICO: Controversial telephone registry put to bed
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Ortega evicts OAS, withdraws from bloc
- COSTA RICA: Chaves reveals initial cabinet picks
- HONDURAS: Castro moves on another electoral pledge
- EL SALVADOR: Gang crackdown extended
POSTSCRIPT
- Wrestling the slippery eel
- Quotes of the week
Colombia’s presidential campaign took several major twists and turns this week as it approaches the finish line on 29 May.
Weekly Report - 21 April 2022 (WR-22-16)
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- Pension defeat reveals scale of challenge for Boric in Chile
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Petro struggles to explain meetings with jailed politicians
- PERU: Ending the cycle of political instability
- VENEZUELA: Opposition rejects calls for lifting sanctions
- ECUADOR: Lasso talks trade in Southern Cone
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Opposition incensed over new judicial council
- BRAZIL: The ‘third way’ tries to regroup
- BRAZIL: Concerns over violence in run-up to elections
- PARAGUAY: Union leaders arrested for extortion
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: End of the road for electricity reform?
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- PANAMA-REGION: Blinken in Panama for high-level migration talks
- HONDURAS: Castro faces unrest
POSTSCRIPT
- Aramayo’s death sparks heated debate in Bolivia
- Quotes of the week
“The key lesson is we need a dialogue with other political forces.” This was the conclusion of Chile’s President Gabriel Boric after deputies in the lower chamber of congress shot down both the early pension withdrawal initiative his government opposed and the alternative bill his government proposed.
Weekly Report - 14 April 2022 (WR-22-15)
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- Reading into Mexico’s recall result
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Torres scores untimely own goal
- COLOMBIA: ‘Putumayo massacre’ ignites security debates
- ECUADOR: China FTA negotiations get the green light
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Parties seal Lula-Alckmin alliance
- BRAZIL: Indigenous mobilise amid intensifying climate concerns
- ARGENTINA-REGION: Shoring up gas supplies
- CHILE: Boric grappling to gain initiative
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele doubles down on repressive laws
- NICARAGUA : Crackdown extended
POSTSCRIPT
- Winding road to Mexico’s electricity sector reform
- Quotes of the week
The results from Mexico’s presidential recall referendum are in and, unsurprisingly, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador comfortably came out on top.
Weekly Report - 07 April 2022 (WR-22-14)
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- Costa Rica heads into uncertainty as outsider Chaves wins run-off
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Ukraine factor knocks Castillo into a tailspin
- COLOMBIA: Petro hoping against the odds for a first-round victory
- ECUADOR: Llori clings to the congressional presidency
- BOLIVIA: Áñez trial gets underway at last
- VENEZUELA: ICC to open office in Caracas
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: The ‘third way’ collapses
- CHILE: Warning light on the constitution
- ARGENTINA: South Atlantic dialogue of the deaf
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: López Obrador sets sights on new reform
- MEXICO: Violence marks local elections
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: UN to probe alleged human rights abuses
POSTSCRIPT
- Cuba bridles at foreign criticism of harsh sentencing
- Quotes of the week
The victory of anti-establishment candidate Rodrigo Chaves in the 3 April presidential run-off has upended politics in Costa Rica, one of the region’s most stable democracies.
Weekly Report - 31 March 2022 (WR-22-13)
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- Has Nicaragua reached a tipping point?
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Bogotá bombing moves Farc dissidents up electoral agenda
- PERU: Castillo acquitted in impeachment vote
- ECUADOR: Lasso clashes with congress over investment
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- URUGUAY: Lacalle Pou wins key battle
- ARGENTINA: Opposition slams proposed new tax
- BRAZIL: Presidential race picks up pace
- BRAZIL: Petrobras CEO ousted after education minister resigns
MEXICO
- MEXICO: López Obrador under pressure over Russia stance
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele hammers gangs after surge in violence
- PANAMA: Electoral court raises eyebrows with Martinelli ruling
POSTSCRIPT
- Mexico’s attorney general faces calls to go after adverse ruling
- Quotes of the week
Nicaragua’s (now former) ambassador to the Organization of American States (OAS), Arturo McFields, has delivered a blistering attack on the Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) government led by President Daniel Ortega.
Weekly Report - 24 March 2022 (WR-22-12)
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- Fernández facing formidable opposition within and without
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Boost and blow for Petro
- PERU: Fujimori story reprised
- BOLIVIA: Sedition removed from the penal code
- ECUADOR: Government acts on prisons
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Education ministry engulfed in another scandal
- BRAZIL: War stokes inflation fears
- CHILE: Boric off to slow start
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Plain sailing for López Obrador’s new airport?
- MEXICO: Opposition rejects ‘propaganda’ decree
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: Hernández edges closer to extradition
- REGION: Washington seeks new alliances in Central America
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- El Salvador delays bitcoin bond issuance
- Quotes of the week
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández is facing a significant political struggle on two fronts which could scupper any aspiration he has for a second term in power from December 2023.
Weekly Report - 17 March 2022 (WR-22-11)
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- Petro cements pole position as congress shifts slightly leftwards
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Congress moves to impeach Castillo
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Boric takes office
- BRAZIL: Petrobras price hike fuels discontent
- BRAZIL: Political alliances start to form ahead of election
- ARGENTINA: Fernández declares “war” on old foe
MEXICO
- MEXICO: European Parliament receives López Obrador’s wrath
- MEXICO: Mayorkas visits Mexico
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- GUATEMALA: Economy minister steps down
- EL SALVADOR: Arrest warrants issued over high-profile civil war case
POSTSCRIPT
- Paraguayan government fails to placate protesters
- Quotes of the week
Gustavo Petro roared to victory in the primary elections for his left-wing Pacto Histórico coalition on 13 March.
Weekly Report - 10 March 2022 (WR-22-10)
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- Colombia bridles at suspected US move to rehabilitate Maduro
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Castillo scrapes victory in cabinet confidence vote
- ECUADOR: Seeking deeper security partnerships
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Opposition digs in heels over IMF accord
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro defends mining as environmentalists protest
- PARAGUAY: Drug operation claims congressional scalp
- URUGUAY: Trade union accused of hijacking Women’s Day
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Push for legislation to protect journalists
- MEXICO: Victory for pro-abortion movement
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- NICARAGUA: Convictions of opposition figures continue
- HONDURAS: More strides in fight against corruption
- COSTA RICA: Chaves faces campaign finance questions
POSTSCRIPT
- Abinader moves swiftly to lessen impact of Russian war
- Quotes of the week
If Colombia’s President Iván Duque had met his US peer Joe Biden in the White House last week, the mutual backslapping of two allies who speak as one on the international stage would have ensued.
Weekly Report - 03 March 2022 (WR-22-09)
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- Russia’s invasion: evaluating the fallout for Latin America
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Military lands major blow against 10th Front
- PERU: López’s plea deal spells trouble for Castillo
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Militarisation of south to end
- BRAZIL: Government trims taxes with eye on election
- URUGUAY: Lacalle Pou upbeat ahead of referendum
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Murders multiply in Michoacán
- MEXICO: Federal judiciary implicated in corruption allegations
- MEXICO: Key debate over electricity reform underway
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Chaves surges clear
- HONDURAS: Castro fulfils another campaign promise
- HAITI: Wage demands spark fresh unrest
POSTSCRIPT
- Fernández’s state-of-the-nation address underwhelms
- Quotes of the week
Russia’s invasion of Ukraine is a watershed moment in modern history.
Weekly Report - 24 February 2022 (WR-22-08)
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- Extreme weather conditions ravage Southern Cone
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Opposition struggle overshadowed
- COLOMBIA: Crucial abortion ruling could impact election result
- PERU: Humala in the dock
- ECUADOR: Lasso denies interfering in CPCCS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- PARAGUAY: Abdo Benítez fires interior minister over drug links
- BRAZIL: Lula remains a favourite in the polls
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Zacatecas security crisis intensifies
- MEXICO: Irregular migration soaring
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- CUBA: Outcry over harsh sentences of protesters
- CUBA-CARIBBEAN: Russia firms up ties
- HONDURAS: Moving on a key pledge
POSTSCRIPT
- Bolivia’s Áñez gets new trial date
- Quotes of the week
Bitter recriminations have broken out in Argentina among different levels of government controlled by the country’s two main rival coalitions over devastating forest fires.
Weekly Report - 17 February 2022 (WR-22-07)
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- Hernández suffers swift downfall in Honduras
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Fighting the dark web
- VENEZUELA: Koki shot dead
- PERU: Torres plays a risky game
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Clock ticking on debt restructuring
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro visits Putin in Russia
- BRAZIL: Environmentalists despair as legislation advances
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Spain downplays tensions
- MEXICO: Corruption concerns over president’s son multiply
- MEXICO: US suspends avocado imports
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Signs of dissent within ruling party?
- NICARAGUA: Boosting ties with Russia and China
- GUATEMALA: Concerns mount as anti-corruption crusaders targeted
POSTSCRIPT
- Mining exports surge to “historic record” in Ecuador
- Quotes of the week
Not many heads of state enjoy such an eventful first three weeks in office as Xiomara Castro.
Weekly Report - 10 February 2022 (WR-22-06)
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- Fernández’s foreign trip sparks controversy
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Take four for Castillo
- COLOMBIA: Concerns over Russian activity in Venezuela
- VENEZUELA: Outcry as leading newspaper’s headquarters handed to Cabello
- BOLIVIA: Major gas discovery likely to ease export difficulties
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- PARAGUAY: Protesters march on palace over insecurity
- BRAZIL: Brutal killing of Congolese refugee causes outrage, prompts discussions
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro tries to woo the Nordeste
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Towards nationalised lithium production?
- MEXICO: Recall vote formally announced
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- COSTA RICA: Figueres secures pole position
- NICARAGUA: Trials of political prisoners begin
- HAITI: Henry urges elections as challenges proliferate
- TRACKING TRENDS
POSTSCRIPT
- Boost for Castro as legislative dispute resolved
- Quotes of the week
Argentina’s President Alberto Fernández paid an official visit to Russia, China, and Barbados between 3 and 8 February with a focus on reducing his country’s dependence on the US and seeking more diverse trade and investment opportunities.
Weekly Report - 03 February 2022 (WR-22-05)
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- Peru’s Castillo hanging on by a thread
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- ECUADOR: Lasso’s policies under scrutiny after oil spill
- BOLIVIA: Former drug czar facing extradition
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: Fernández faces fallout from IMF deal
- BRAZIL: Supreme court urges tolerance in electoral year
- BRAZIL: Fiscal outlook uncertain despite primary surplus
- URUGUAY: Gearing up for key referendum
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Mexico-US security alliance fleshed out
- MEXICO: New congress session opens amid competing priorities
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: Castro ushers in new era amid immediate constraints
- GUATEMALA: Key minister resigns
POSTSCRIPT
- Colombia and Ecuador citizen security laws excite controversy
- Quotes of the week
Peruvians are well accustomed to a succession of political crises.
Weekly Report - 27 January 2022 (WR-22-04)
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- Corruption and threats to democracy menace Latin America
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Recall petition flops amid voter intimidation
- PERU: Congress delivers blow to plans for new constitution
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- CHILE: Boric unveils balanced cabinet
- ARGENTINA: Fernández tries to regain initiative
- BRAZIL: Rio governor launches new security programme
- BRAZIL: Bolsonaro sanctions 2022 budget
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Morena senate divisions intensify
- MEXICO: Ambassador appointments cause a stir
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HONDURAS: Crisis erupts ahead of Castro’s inauguration
- GUATEMALA: Giammattei marks halfway point
POSTSCRIPT
- Repsol in the crosshairs after oil spill
- Quotes of the week
There is nothing quite like the release of the annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) by the Berlin-based NGO Transparency International (TI) to engender debate among policymakers, the business community, and civil society.
Weekly Report - 20 January 2022 (WR-22-03)
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- Tensions over Ukraine spread to Latin America
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- COLOMBIA: Zuluaga set to go it alone after snub
- VENEZUELA: Possibility of recall referendum met with scepticism
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- ARGENTINA: IMF tensions riding high
- CHILE: Boric, Enade, and lithium
- BRAZIL: Disgruntled civil servants take to the streets
- BRAZIL: Inflation and inequality loom over election year
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Electricity reform debated in congress
- MEXICO: Extreme violence surges
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Bukele intent on silencing critics
- CUBA: Mass trials amid renewed crackdown
- HAITI: More arrests in relation to Moïse’s murder
POSTSCRIPT
- Ruling BLP sweeps the board in Barbados
- Quotes of the week
While a repeat of the 13 days of acute tensions that unfolded during the Cuban Missile Crisis remains a remote prospect, memories have been stirred nearly 60 years on from the political and military standoff of 1962 after Russian government officials responded to mounting tensions over Ukraine by suggesting that Russia could send military assets to allies in Latin America, namely Cuba and Venezuela.
Weekly Report - 13 January 2022 (WR-22-02)
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- Isolated but unbowed, Ortega begins new term in Nicaragua
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- VENEZUELA: Opposition finds formula in repeat Barinas win
- PERU: New breakaway party to support Castillo
- COLOMBIA: ELN attack in Cali
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- REGION: Omicron wave hits
- BRAZIL: Rains batter Minas Gerais, spark concerns
- ARGENTINA: Rallying regional support amid crunch IMF talks
- TRACKING TRENDS
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Tren Maya focus of cabinet reshuffle
- MEXICO: Progress made in ‘Fast & Furious’ case
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- EL SALVADOR: Reopening of landmark civil war case raises eyebrows
- BARBADOS: Curfew lifted as Mottley calls snap elections
- HONDURAS: Congressional challenge confronts Castro
POSTSCRIPT
- Boric appoints close confidant as chief lieutenant
- Quotes of the week
Nicaragua’s President Daniel Ortega and his Frente Sandinista de Liberación Nacional (FSLN) took office this week for a fourth consecutive five-year term.
Weekly Report - 06 January 2022 (WR-22-01)
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- Boric sweeps to victory, ushering in new era in Chile
ANDEAN COUNTRIES
- PERU: Changing ministers again
- VENEZUELA: Maduro predicts stabilisation in 2022
- COLOMBIA: At least 24 killed in Arauca guerrilla dispute
- ECUADOR: Lasso lashes out at indigenous leader
- TRACKING TRENDS
BRAZIL & SOUTHERN CONE
- BRAZIL: Bahia under water, Bolsonaro under fire
- BRAZIL: Alarming destruction in the Cerrado
- ARGENTINA: Smoke and mirrors
MEXICO
- MEXICO: Tensions rise between Morena and INE
- TRACKING TRENDS
CENTRAL AMERICA & CARIBBEAN
- HAITI: Henry decries assassination attempt
- GUATEMALA: Flare-up of indigenous dispute puts Giammattei on back foot
POSTSCRIPT
- Lacalle Pou moves to protect Uruguay’s pulp industry
- Quotes of the week
When the military dictatorship of General Augusto Pinochet ended on 11 March 1990, Gabriel Boric was only four.