While the government was surprised by the major demonstrations in March this year, it was braced for a huge mobilisation on 16 August. The number of people who took to the streets was significant: the military police estimated the total number, nationwide, at upwards of 850,000 in over 200 cities. While the police have a history of overstating numbers, Datafolha, the polling institute, put the numbers on São Paulo city’s Avenida Paulista alone at 135,000. Both figures represent a fall on March’s protests, though more than in April. But people power may be of less immediate concern to President Dilma…

In the province of Buenos Aires, thousands have been forced to flee their homes due to floods. With around one third of the Argentine electorate based in the province, and just two months to go until the general elections, the natural disaster has unsurprisingly become an issue in the presidential race. Daniel Scioli, the frontrunner and candidate for the ruling Frente para la Victoria (FPV) faction of the Partido Justicialista (PJ, Peronists), is also the governor of the province. On 12 August, pressure from the opposition candidates forced him to cut short a trip abroad to attend to the situation.…