News of congress

New US president gets to work rolling back Trump-era policies

Today 09:54 Biden issues flurry of executive orders, warns that Covid-19 is expected to kill "well over 600,000" in the United States.

UNITED STATES

Trump impeachment heads to Senate Monday, triggering trial

Today 09:03 Article of impeachment against former President Donald Trump will be delivered to the Senate on Monday, triggering the start of his unprecedented second trial in the chamber.

UNITED STATES

Democrats tell 'unhinged' Trump to step down or be impeached

09-01-2021 09:15 Nancy Pelosi speaks with the nation's top military leader about blocking potential military or nuclear action by president during final days in office.

CHAOS IN WASHINGTON

Latin American lessons for the United States’ damaged democracy

09-01-2021 07:16 Being able to disrupt the constitutional process, whether directly or indirectly, through the use of violence is an indication that said democratic process is breaking down.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

Abortion bill

Polarised upper house set to vote on legalising abortion

29-12-2020 08:31 A polarised Senate will decide Tuesday whether to legalise abortion in Argentina in a vote experts say could go either way.

UNITED STATES

Trump will be gone, but trauma of 2020 may haunt Biden

26-12-2020 10:06 Even with Donald Trump gone and Joe Biden promising to heal the nation there'll be no quick return to normal in 2021.

Abortion bill

Lawmakers in lower house approve bill to legalise abortion

11-12-2020 04:00 Lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies approve government's bill to legalise abortion by 131 votes to 117, paving the way for a showdown in the Senate before the end of the year.

ABORTION DEBATE

Lower house set to vote on bill to legalise abortion

10-12-2020 02:54 Chamber of Deputies set to vote on bill to legalise abortion in Argentina. Session due to begin at 11am, with vote on initiative expected to take place in early hours of Friday morning.

Revenue-sharing row

City mayor rails against 'political attack' as tensions over funding soar

03-12-2020 11:20 Political tensions have surged back to the fore in Argentina after the Chamber of Deputies approved by a 129-118 vote a sharp cut in this city’s federal revenue-sharing funding on Tuesday following a marathon 20-hour session and intense debate.

Abortion bill

Congress begins debate on bill to legalise abortion

01-12-2020 17:36 Lower house opened debate on the government’s abortion bill on Tuesday, with President Alberto Fernández hoping to legalise the process in Argentina by the end of the year.

ARGENTINA ABLAZE

Lawmakers approve bill to limit commercial use of fire-destroyed land

21-11-2020 09:02 After marathon debate, Chamber of Deputies approves bill drawn up by Máximo Kirchner that bans repurposing of fire-affected land.

Abortion bill

Fernández sends Congress bill to legalise abortion in Argentina

17-11-2020 17:36 President Alberto Fernández said Tuesday that his government had sent a bill to legalise abortion to Congress, firing the starting gun on what is likely to be another epic legislative showdown.

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

Peru taps third president in less than a week to fill power vacuum

17-11-2020 08:07 Lawmakers on Monday voted in Francisco Sagasti, an elder-statesman legislator with extensive consulting experience at home and abroad to lead a new government by electing him head of congress and new president.

PERUVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Peruvian Congress chooses centrist Francisco Sagasti as new president

16-11-2020 19:25 Francisco Sagasti chosen as next leader by Congress as Peru gets to grips with deep political crisis, sparked by the impeachment of one popular president and the resignation of his controversial successor amid protests which killed two people.

PERUVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Merino resigns as Peru president after five days in power

15-11-2020 17:59 Peru's interim leader Manuel Merino resigned on Sunday, just five days after taking office, sparking wild street celebrations in the capital Lima after protests against his rule.

PERUVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Peru's new leader faces calls to resign after three protesters killed

15-11-2020 08:16 Lawmakers call for the "immediate resignation" of interim president Manuel Merino, after a violent crackdown on protests against his new government left at least three dead and more than 60 injured.

Abortion bill

Abortion bill will be sent to Congress in November, says Ibarra

11-11-2020 01:43 Legal & Technical Secretary Vilma Ibarra confirms that bill will be sent to Congress this month, with debate to take place in extraordinary sessions.

PERUVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Peru's Congress votes to impeach President Vizcarra on graft allegations

09-11-2020 22:19 Peru's Congress voted Monday to impeach President Martín Vizcarra over allegations he took kickbacks from developers while a regional governor. Congress leader Manuel Marino will now take over the presidential functions until July 2021.

BLOOMBERG

BlackRock's Fink says Argentina won't soon regain investor trust

06-11-2020 08:15 Blackrock Inc. CEO Larry Fink said Argentina has a long way to go before it can regain investor confidence.

US ELECTION 2020

New York progressive Ocasio-Cortez easily wins second House term

04-11-2020 02:10 Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez comfortably secured a second term in Congress on Tuesday with an expected win over her Republican challenger.

ABORTION BILL

Fernández set to relaunch delayed bid to legalise abortion

28-10-2020 22:40 President Alberto Fernández is preparing his government to send a bill to allow the voluntary interruption of pregnancy to Argentina’s lower house before the end of the year. Inside Congress, however, the countdown has already begun.

Abortion reform

Fernández says government is 'finishing work' on bill to legalise abortion

27-10-2020 17:14 Peronist leader says in an interview that his government is putting the final touches to a bill to legalise abortion and that it would soon be sent to Congress.

BLOOMBERG - OPINION

El-Erian: Argentina and Ecuador diverge after bond restructurings

11-10-2020 09:18 A month after finalising historic “zoom” debt restructurings, Argentina and Ecuador find themselves on starkly different paths toward economic and financial improvements.

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: September 19 to 26

26-09-2020 09:29 Our pick of the stories from the last seven days in Argentina.

EDITORIAL

Keeping abreast of a changing world

26-09-2020 09:22 More than superb ammunition for gossip columnists or an accident waiting to happen with the technological hazards of virtual sessions, this disgrace might well prove to be the match lighting a new “Begone with them all” powder-keg.

SCANDAL IN CONGRESS

Lawmaker resigns post amid breast-kissing scandal

26-09-2020 09:05 Frente de Todos lawmaker Juan Emilio Ameri dramatically suspended from Congress after kissing his partner’s breast during a remote videoconference session with fellow legislators. Hours later, he resigned his post.

SCANDAL IN CONGRESS

Lawmaker suspended after kissing partner’s breast during Congress session

24-09-2020 23:24 Salta lawmaker Juan Emilio Ameri was dramatically suspended from Congress on Thursday night after he kissing his partner’s breast during a remote videoconference session with fellow legislators.

CONGRESS, CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández signs decree formalising removal of judges investigating CFK

17-09-2020 19:21 In wake of Senate vote boycotted by opposition, president signs three decrees to annul transfers of three judges involved in corruption cases against Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

WORLD FOOTBALL

World Cup fixture pile-up overshadows FIFA Congress

17-09-2020 16:43 When the 70th FIFA Congress meets on Friday, one issue will very much be on members’ minds – how to find time in the football calendar for hundreds of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup.

by Anthony Harwood

Budget proposal

Fernández's first Budget projects 5.5% growth in 2021

16-09-2020 01:17 Government's budget bill forecast for 2021: economic growth of 5.5%, primary fiscal deficit of 4.5%, inflation at 29% and 102 pesos per dollar.

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: September 5 to 12

12-09-2020 09:33 Key stories that caught our eye during the last seven days in Argentina.

by Michael Soltys

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Argentina exits default after US$65-billion debt deal

07-09-2020 21:53 Nation officially emerges from its ninth default after Standard & Poor's Global raised its credit rating following the restructuring of US$65 billion of overseas debt.

ROUND UP

What we learned this week: August 29 to September 5

05-09-2020 10:06 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

POLITICS & THE PANDEMIC

A new low for the Lower House

05-09-2020 09:15 Monday was a big day for Alberto Fernández’s Peronist government, as it heralded its debt deal with foreign creditors. But the joy lasted only a day and celebrations were all but buried by news in Congress.

by Martín Gambarotta

BLOOMBERG

Guzmán says Argentina must work to cut bond yields

04-09-2020 17:53 Country must reduce its bond yields before returning to international capital markets in a process that will likely take some time, says Economy Minister Martín Guzmán in interview.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Guzmán confirms 99% of overseas debt restructured in swap

31-08-2020 17:52 Argentina wins "massive" bondholder support to restructure overseas debt, exchanging 99% of debt held under international law.

Wealth tax

Congress set to debate government's 'wealth tax' bill

30-08-2020 16:55 Government’s proposed ‘wealth tax’ bill heads to Congress. President Fernández seeks to bring in 300 billion pesos in tax revenue through one-time levy on wealthiest citizens.

JUDICIAL REFORM

Judicial reform bill clears Senate, heads to lower house

28-08-2020 18:04 Controversial proposal, which the opposition strongly rejects, passes to the Chamber of Deputies after early Friday morning vote along strict party lines.

JUDICIAL REFORM

Opposition applies pressure ahead of judicial reform battle

22-08-2020 09:53 Juntos por el Cambio calls on Fernández administration to withdraw its judicial reform bill, which is set to enter Congress next week.

JUDICIAL REFORM

Protesters call new rally against government’s judicial reform bill

21-08-2020 00:17 Demonstrators to stage new rally marching on Congress on August 26 in protest of the government’s judicial reform bill.

POST '17A' RALLY

Following rally, opposition calls on Fernández to drop justice reform

18-08-2020 23:15 Seeking to build on the momentum of 17A anti-government rally, Juntos por el Cambio calls on government to withdraw its judicial reform bill.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Creditors reiterate support for Argentina’s debt restructuring offer

18-08-2020 16:08 Two of three main bondholder groups confirm they will accede to revised proposal, which was filed with the US Securities and Exchange Commission on Monday.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Government files official debt offer with SEC, extends deadline

17-08-2020 14:50 Amended debt restructuring offer filed with US Securities and Exchange Commission, extending deadline for investors to accept until August 28.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina’s creditors will get better debt deals from provinces

14-08-2020 15:16 National government’s debt restructuring accord was a benchmark, setting a minimum, not a maximum for what investors can expect.

ABORTION DEBATE

Government confirms abortion bill delayed until 2021

14-08-2020 01:00 Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero says bill to legalise abortion in Argentina will not be presented to Congress this year, blaming the coronavirus pandemic.

Bloomberg

Chilean lawmakers want to raise US$6 billion taxing the ultra rich

13-08-2020 18:52 Legislators from the Communist Party to the Christian Democrats submitted a bill that would set a one-time, 2.5 percent levy on individuals with more than US$22 million in wealth. Government opposes proposal.

BLOOMBERG

Government seeks to reach new IMF agreement before April

07-08-2020 00:49 Government seeks deal with the International Monetary Fund over a new financing programme before the end of March, in order to renegotiate US$2-billion payment owed to the Paris Club that matures in May.

DEBT RESTRUCTURING DEAL

Support – and silence – from opposition economists in wake of debt deal

05-08-2020 00:31 Luis Caputo the most effusive in celebrating the government's deal with creditors, while Hernán Lacunza and Lucas Llach also express support. Alfonso Prat-Gay, the former official who was most critical of the deal, leads the criticism.

by Andrés Fidanza