As I see it The French are at it again 04-02-2023 06:50 The time when a reasonable degree of economic equality seemed to be within reach now belongs to the past. by James Neilson
Global economic outlook From impending catastrophe to moderately optimistic? 04-02-2023 06:09 Just as the global economy was heading into an unavoidable recession, sentiment seems to have been reversed and optimism is taking over. by Agustino Fontevecchia
Brazilian politics Bolsonaro vows to remain 'active' in Brazilian politics 01-02-2023 14:41 Far-right leader promise some 400 supporters gathered in Orlando, Florida, that he will remain "active" in Brazilian politics, despite election loss to bitter rival Lula.
POLITICAL ANALYSIS Secret pacts between Massa & Alberto and Macri & Rodríguez Larreta 28-01-2023 01:19 Have the tables turned on Cristina Fernández de Kirchner? Public and private information indicates that Alberto Fernández and Sergio Massa have an explicit agreement regarding the 2023 presidential election. by Agustino Fontevecchia
As I see it On Planet K, inflation is all in the mind 28-01-2023 00:33 To bring things under control, Alberto’s government would have to slow down the printing presses and greatly reduce public spending, measures that, needless to say, it refuses to contemplate. by James Neilson
And that reminds me… Court between a rock and a hard place 21-01-2023 06:56 Both the 1947 and the 2002-2003 purges accomplished their missions but we may well be taking current events too seriously if we expect a similar outcome now.
EDITORIAL For a few dollars less 21-01-2023 05:53 Sergio Massa looks no closer to gaining market confidence nor Cristina Fernández de Kirchner to advancing the impeachment of the Supreme Court beyond committee stage in Congress.
Plan Massa Peronist gradualism 21-01-2023 05:46 Once again Sergio Massa has taken the spotlight. As the electoral year gets going, he seems to be placing his bets on managing to bring inflation down while keeping the economy in positive territory to become the main candidate for the pan-Peronist coalition, Frente de Todos. by Agustino Fontevecchia
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Horacio Rodríguez Larreta: ‘I do not see any clear government plan to lower inflation’ 20-01-2023 12:53 Buenos Aires City Mayor and likely 2023 presidential hopeful Horacio Rodríguez Larreta on the Supreme Court’s federal revenue-sharing ruling, next year’s election and developments from the last 12 months. by Jorge Fontevecchia
BLOOMBERG Rich investors pull out of Chile, leaving behind a US$50-billion hole 19-01-2023 14:45 Chile, Latin America’s stand-out economy for the better part of 50 years and a darling of Wall Street, is in many ways facing an existential moment.
Bull vs. bear Is it Massa, the bull market, or are we about to implode again? 14-01-2023 06:25 We are not walking on the edge of the precipice, but we’re still awfully close, and a small breeze could be enough to destabilise us. by Agustino Fontevecchia
POLITICS & JUDICIARY Government summons Congress to debate Supreme Court impeachment 13-01-2023 18:06 President Alberto Fernández’s government calls extraordinary sessions of Congress, starting January 23; Among bills are one that would impeach members of the Supreme Court for "poor performance."
DOMESTIC REACTION Opposition uses Brazil crisis to point finger at Alberto Fernández 13-01-2023 01:12 Politicians on both sides of the aisle use last weekend's turmoil in Brasilia to raise the spectre of unrest in Argentina this electoral year.
Turmoil in Brazil Lula: Brasilia rioters likely had inside help from police, military 13-01-2023 01:09 Brazilian leader alleges that rioters who sacked the presidential palace, Supreme Court and Congress last weekend likely had assistance from Bolsonaro sympathisers; Lula orders “thorough review” of all staff as Brasilia ramps up security amid new protest threats.
Turmoil in Brazil Disinformation fuelled rage in Brazil over vote outcome 12-01-2023 06:36 Far-right rioters who stormed Brasil's Congress January 8 in support of former president Jair Bolsonaro were partly mobilized by Internet disinformation suggesting irregularities and fraud in electric ballot boxes.
Politics in Venezuela Maduro '100% defeatable' says Venezuela opposition leader Guaidó 10-01-2023 17:32 Venezuela's opposition replaced Juan Guaido as the head of a foreign-backed parallel congress, hammering the final nail in the coffin of his "interim government." Despite the setback, he says he's confident Nicolás Maduro can be defeated at the ballot box.
BRAZIL IN TURMOIL Pope cites Brazil in critique of political crises in Americas 09-01-2023 21:48 Argentine pontiff cites "various countries of the Americas where political crises are laden with tensions and forms of violence that exacerbate social conflicts."
PRESIDENT ON MERCOSUR President: ‘Agricultural protectionism’ blocking EU-Mercosur deal 01-01-2023 03:00 President Alberto Fernández on tensions within the Mercosur, the future of the regional trade bloc and what is really blocking its controversial free-trade deal with the European Union. by Jorge Fontevecchia
Politics in Venezuela Venezuelan opposition dissolves Guaido's 'interim government' 31-12-2022 09:08 Venezuelan opposition on Friday dissolved the "interim government" led by Juan Guaidó, once the popular and internationally recognized face of the drive to oust leftist leader Nicolas Maduro.
CHANGE IN BRAZIL Amid tight security, Brazil hosts 'Lulapalooza' to toast Lula inauguration 30-12-2022 12:29 Some 300,000 revellers and more than a dozen heads of state and government are expected to attend leftist icon Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's swearing-extravaganza in Brasilia.
POLITICS Victoria Donda resigns as head of INADI anti-discrimination body 30-12-2022 01:06 Human rights activist and former lawmaker resigns as head of the National Institute against Discrimination, Xenophobia and Racism, posting scathing letter that criticises the government.
EXCHANGE MARKET Argentina’s black-market peso slumps to record ahead of holidays 29-12-2022 15:33 Argentina's black market exchange rate plunged to a record low this week, with the blue dollar hitting 357 pesos per greenback.
ISRAELI POLITICS Israel's Netanyahu returns to power with extreme-right government 29-12-2022 14:43 Israel's hawkish veteran sworn in as prime minister once again, this time heading what analysts call the most right-wing government in the country's history.
ARREST IN BOLIVIA Bolivia charges key opposition leader Camacho with 'terrorism,' says government 28-12-2022 19:10 Bolivian opposition leader Luis Fernando Camacho, governor of the Santa Cruz region, arrested by the police on orders of a prosecutor.
Vice-president's speech Cristina Fernández de Kirchner slams Supreme Court over tax sharing ruling 28-12-2022 19:04 Vice-president slams Supreme Court for its decision to rule in favour of Buenos Aires City in an ongoing federal revenue-sharing row with the national government, as she claims any potential 2023 candidacy has been "proscribed" by the Judiciary.
Football & Politics Claudio Tapia: Victory parade row shines spotlight on AFA chief 26-12-2022 14:56 The bus carrying the most popular caravan in the country’s history did not arrive at the Obelisk, as the World Cup champions wanted, and neither did they make it to the balcony of the Casa Rosada, as the government desired. The dispute over the celebrations following Argentina’s triumph in Qatar underlines ‘Chiqui’ Tapia’s complicated relationship with President Alberto Fernández. by Agustín Colombo
REVENUE-SHARING ROW Alberto Fernández now says he’ll comply with top court order 26-12-2022 14:00 Days after saying he would not comply with a Supreme Court order that called for it to return federal funds to the Buenos Aires City government, President Alberto Fernández says will he honour the decision.
EDITORIAL Christmas this Sunday or last (or both)? 24-12-2022 06:45 The word “catharsis” has been overused in the past month because of its tempting overlap with the World Cup host country’s name but the shoe fits – there was an element of catharsis for a country still emerging from the coronavirus pandemic and enduring over a decade without any sustained growth since that 2010 bicentenary.
POLITICS & SPORT Argentina lauds united footballers in divided crisis-riven country 20-12-2022 09:16 For the last month, the Albiceleste have brought success and unity to their fans, in stark contrast to the country's economic woes and polarised political landscape.
POLITICS – ANALYSIS Operation ‘spook’ 17-12-2022 06:00 With inflation running near 100 percent and an economy that could grind to a halt given a structural lack of hard currency, optimism is reserved for the brave. by Agustino Fontevecchia
And that reminds me… Dry rot or drought rout 17-12-2022 05:32 Argentina’s numerous crises are invariably a fertile field for extended analysis by pundits and economists but this columnist would argue that in many cases the causes can be reduced to a single word – drought. by Michael Soltys
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Inflation spikes to 92% as economic growth picks up 16-12-2022 14:21 Utilities and communications led price increases during the month, while food, the largest category, increased the least, according to official data.
INTERVIEW / PERIODISMO PURO Alberto Fernández: ‘This government, of which I’m president, is also Cristina’s government’ 16-12-2022 14:11 Interviewed at the Editorial Perfil newsroom, President Alberto Fernández offers an evaluation of his three years in government in a feature interview. He addresses the economy, his relationship with Sergio Massa, Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s corruption conviction and his recent national broadcast highlighting allegations of political and judicial collusion. by Jorge Fontevecchia
ECONOMIC INDICATORS Argentina sees inflation bouncing back slightly in December 15-12-2022 16:58 Argentina’s Central Bank forecast monthly inflation to accelerate slightly in December on seasonal effects but that won’t derail a disinflation process expected for the country during early 2023, a top policymaker said.
POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERU Mexico, Argentina, Colombia slam Peru’s treatment of Castillo 14-12-2022 10:30 Mexico, Argentina and Colombia throw support behind Pedro Castillo, Peruvian leader impeached last week, adding a new twist to the crisis that has paralyzed swathes of the country and left several protesters dead.
POLITICS – ANALYSIS Reset 13-12-2022 15:20 In May 2019, Cristina Fernández de Kirchner announced in a video that she was choosing Alberto Fernández as the Frente de Todos presidential candidate. Last week, she excluded herself from any candidacy in next year’s elections, once again shaking up the political status quo. by Jorge Fontevecchia
POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERU Seven dead as Peru's new leader fails to quell protests 13-12-2022 09:24 Five more protesters died in Peru as violent demonstrations over the ousting of former president Pedro Castillo continue; Demostrators are demanding fresh elections and the resignation of new President Dina Boluarte.
LATIN AMERICA Chilean Congress agrees to restart Constitution rewrite process 13-12-2022 09:08 Council's members to draft new constitution will be elected in a mandatory vote in April 2023, and must be equal numbers of men and women.
EUROPEAN POLITICS EU parliament's credibility rocked by Qatar bribe claims 12-12-2022 10:26 Investigation underway into allegations that figures working on behalf of Qatar, the Gulf monarchy and World Cup host, paid European politicians huge bribes to influence Brussels policy debate.
LAGO ESCONDIDO SCANDAL There are no coincidences in the Hidden Lake 10-12-2022 06:41 There is nothing inherently criminal in having these magistrates and officials accept an invitation to a public retreat from an interest group that happens to be the country’s largest media conglomerate. The issue here is ethical. by Agustino Fontevecchia
EDITORIAL Knocked for six 10-12-2022 04:58 If Cristina Fernández de Kirchner is the first serving Argentine vice-president to be sentenced for corruption, that is perhaps the less significant precedent set by Tuesday’s historic verdict in the Santa Cruz highway contract corruption trial.
And that reminds me… The 39 steps 10-12-2022 04:45 Raúl Alfonsín’s election victory and inauguration gave most people every impression of a fresh start even if a Radical party then nearing its centenary could hardly be described as a new force. by Michael Soltys
Analysis A conviction that does not convict 08-12-2022 15:54 The millions who consider Cristina Fernández de Kirchner corrupt do not need a ruling to prove it. And for millions of others, she will never be guilty. by Gustavo González
PROFILE Dina Boluarte: Peru's first female president 08-12-2022 15:22 Dina Boluarte was virtually unknown on the Peruvian political scene a year and a half ago, when she rode into office in July 2021 as Pedro Castillo's vice-president.
POLITICAL CRISIS IN PERU Peru's new president under pressure after predecessor's arrest 08-12-2022 15:14 Peru's Pedro Castillo was impeached and replaced as president by his deputy on Wednesday in a dizzying series of events in a country that has long been prone to political upheaval.
JUDICIAL-POLITICAL COLLUSION Government denounces those involved in Lago Escondido scandal 07-12-2022 20:51 Justice Minister Martín Soria files complaint against judges, prosecutors, officials and Clarín executives; Prosecutor shows revealing images of the group arriving in Bariloche and questions invoices presented.
PERU Peru president impeached despite bid to dissolve Congress 07-12-2022 17:02 Lawmakers defiantly gathered to debate and approve an impeachment motion, with 101 votes out of a total of 130 lawmakers, in a session broadcast live on television.
PERU Peru's Castillo dissolves Congress, to name 'emergency' govt 07-12-2022 14:50 A new congress will be convened "as soon as possible," the embattled leader announced to Peruvians in a televised address.
VICE-PRESIDENT’S RESPONSE Cristina says she won't be a candidate in 2023 elections 07-12-2022 08:54 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner rails against “parallel state and judicial mafia” in an hour-long livestream broadcast reacting to corruption conviction, in which the former president declares she will not run in next year’s election campaign.
PROFILE Cristina Fernández de Kirchner: powerful, divisive, and tainted by fraud 07-12-2022 01:06 Cristina Fernández de Kirchner has drawn adoration and hatred in equal measure, and even a fraud conviction is unlikely to push her out of the corridors of power anytime soon.