US ELECTIONS 2022 Republicans make gains in US midterms but no 'red wave' 09-11-2022 17:11 Disappointing night for Donald Trump, who was counting on a powerful Republican showing to boost his expected 2024 run to return to White House.
US MIDTERM ELECTIONS US votes with Biden agenda at stake – and Trump in the wings 08-11-2022 11:50 At stake are all 435 seats in the House of Representatives, one-third of the Senate and a slew of state and local positions. Five states are holding referendums on abortion – California, Vermont, Kentucky, Montana and Michigan.
POLITICS & CONGRESS Lower house approves 2023 Budget after marathon session 26-10-2022 12:23 Ruling coalition secures approval of 2023 Budget bill with 180 votes in favour, 22 against and 49 abstentions, though articles to strip income tax exemptions for judges and judicial workers fails to win support.
BRAZIL ELECTION 2022 Election showed Brazil's far-right was sold short, say analysts 06-10-2022 01:20 Jair Bolsonaro was not the only one to have a surprisingly strong night in Brazil's elections: the far-right incumbent's allies also outperformed expectations in key congressional and governor's races.
JUDICIAL REFORM Supreme Court justice slams bid to impose ‘judicial populism’ 30-04-2022 01:25 Former leader of nation’s highest tribunal Ricardo Lorenzetti criticises ruling coalition, proposal to raise number of Supreme Court to 16.
JUDICIARY Senator presents bill to reform Supreme Court 26-04-2022 16:28 Río Negro senator and former governor Alberto Weretilneck presents bill to reform Supreme Court, proposing 16 justices, gender equality and greater federalism.
EDITORIAL Divide and rule (but not rule of law) 23-04-2022 00:01 A separation of powers still nominally exists but all three branches of government now respond to partisan battle lines.
COURTS & JUDICIARY CFK’s battle against Judiciary escalates amid Magistrates Council row 22-04-2022 23:51 Conflict erupts after Supreme Court orders restoration of Council of Magistrates, body that oversees hiring and firing of judges; Vice-President Fernández de Kirchner reacts by splitting Senate caucus as ruling coalition eyes expansion for nation’s top court.
POLITICS & THE COURTS Council of Magistrates reform bill clears Senate 08-04-2022 23:47 Government advances with Council of the Magistrates reform, leaving out the Supreme Court.
IMF DEBT DEAL Congress greenlights debt deal – ball now in IMF’s court 18-03-2022 21:46 US$45-billion agreement signed into law by president; Deal now needs approval by IMF’s Executive Board.
POLITICS Government admits to growing tensions within Frente de Todos 18-03-2022 21:18 Vote on IMF debt deal exposes split within ruling coalition; Government spokesperson Gabriela Cerruti admits to tensions between President Alberto Fernández and Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.
IMF DEBT DEAL Senate approves IMF deal, now goes to board vote 18-03-2022 09:10 In a 56-13 vote with three abstentions, senators approve legislation underpinning Argentina’s latest IMF programme.
IMF DEBT DEAL Senate set to open debate on government's IMF bill 13-03-2022 21:25 IMF bill due to reach Senate Budget Committee on Monday, with the ruling coalition wanting it approved by the end of the week.
IMF DEBT DEAL PROTESTS Fernández de Kirchner hits out at ‘paradoxical’ attack on her Senate office 11-03-2022 16:40 Vice-president and Senate chief expresses dismay at "paradoxical" attack on her Senate office during protests against government's International Monetary Fund debt bill.
LAWMAKERS DEBATE DEBT DEAL IN CONGRESS Senate prepares to debate IMF deal after lower house backs bill 11-03-2022 16:25 Upper house to begin debate on bill on Monday, with government seeking approval before start of following week, when US$2.9-billion maturity is due.
IMF DEBT DEAL Argentina’s IMF deal bill passes in lower house, heads to Senate 11-03-2022 09:24 In early hours of Friday morning, Argentina's lower house of Congress approved bill underpinning government’s US$45-billion agreement with the IMF.
NEW CONGRESS SESSIONS Fernández slams Macri in speech to Congress, prompting opposition walkout 04-03-2022 23:07 Opposition PRO party lawmakers walk out on speech to Congress after president once again attacks Macri for agreeing an “unpayable foreign debt” with IMF.
POLITICS Buenos Aires provincial legislature approves mayoral re-election for 2023 31-12-2021 00:50 Mayors, lawmakers and councillors in Buenos Aires Province can now seek a third term in office after provincial deputies speed through vote modifying law preventing their re-election after two consecutive terms in office. by James Grainger
SENATOR STEPS DOWN Esteban Bullrich bows out of Congress with emotional speech 10-12-2021 23:15 Senator Esteban Bullrich delivers an emotional farewell speech in upper house after confirming his resignation due to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS).
NEW CONGRESS SWORN-IN New deputies, senators take seats in Congress, shifting balance of power 10-12-2021 23:13 The 127 deputies elected last November 14 were sworn into their seats for the next four years; 24 new senators take benches in upper house.
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS Left’s great election provides support for the battles to come 20-11-2021 12:13 We know that we’re living in hard times for the working-class majorities who expressed their social discontent at the ballot box. by Nicolás del Caño, via Noticias Argentinas
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS How to freak out the IMF, an Argentine story 20-11-2021 11:55 It is difficult to fathom an IMF that will ink a deal with a nation that upholds dual exchange rates, price controls, relentless monetary expansion, and massive energy and utility subsidies in the context of perpetual deficits and extremely high inflation. by Agustino Fontevecchia
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS The second half 20-11-2021 11:54 Lessons from last Sunday’s election – and pointers for what lies ahead. by Jorge Fontevecchia
POST-ELECTION ROW Government seeks approval for 116 decrees, prompting opposition walkout 19-11-2021 03:01 Little sign of post-election dialogue as Juntos por el Cambio refuses to support debate on 116 presidential decrees. Ruling coalition wants DNUs approved by Senate before new lawmakers are sworn-in.
PANDORA PAPERS Chile President Sebastián Piñera survives impeachment vote 17-11-2021 12:42 Chile's Senate declines to impeach President Sebastián Piñera over a business deal revealed in the Pandora Papers leaks, refusing to go along with the lower house of Congress in opening proceedings against him.
ELECTIONS 2021 Midterm elections deliver president polarised Congress 16-11-2021 11:31 President Alberto Fernández will face a polarised new Congress in December following Sunday's midterm elections.
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS Kirchnerism renews its control of the Conurbano 15-11-2021 21:37 In Greater Buenos Aires, the ruling party increased its number of votes from the PASOs, reversing defeats Quilmes and San Martín. Opposition did manage to turn round the race in Lanús, where Juntos por el Cambio won by less than a point.
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS Todos contentos 15-11-2021 16:10 With less catastrophic results than those anticipated by the PASO primaries, all the politicians have to do now is open dialogue and get the country out of the national crisis... by Carlos De Angelis
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS President vows to send ‘multi-year economic programme’ to Congress 15-11-2021 13:12 President Alberto Fernández announced Sunday night that he will send a bill to Congress outlining a “multi-year economic programme” for Argentina – and he says it has the “full support” of his coalition, including Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner. by Lorena Rodríguez
ELECTIONS 2021: REACTION Argentina's bonds climb as president promises new plan after vote 15-11-2021 12:32 Bonds gain after voters rejected the government’s handling of the economy in midterm elections and President Alberto Fernández promised to cooperate with opposition lawmakers on a new agenda.
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS Why the ruling coalition is celebrating an electoral defeat 15-11-2021 01:36 The optimism of Frente de Todos, despite the ruling coalition having lost its majority in the Senate. Challenges lie ahead. by Javier Calvo
ELECTIONS 2021 Government loses majority in Congress, seeks dialogue with opposition 15-11-2021 00:22 Frente de Todos coalition set to drop from 41 to 35 seats in the 72-member Senate, based on projections with more than 98% of votes counted.
ELECTIONS 2021 Macri on election: ‘It’s the end of one era and the beginning of another’ 15-11-2021 00:00 “The result confirms that it is the end of one era and the beginning of another," declares former president Mauricio Macri.
Elections 2021 Fernández calls for dialogue with opposition after election defeat 14-11-2021 22:44 In a new way of acknowledging defeat, President Alberto Fernández broadcasts a recorded message from the Olivos presidential residence in which he calls for dialogue with the opposition.
ELECTIONS 2021: ANALYSIS With these results, Cristina loses control and quorum in the Senate 14-11-2021 22:12 Preliminary results confirm PASO losses in La Pampa, Chubut and Santa Fe. Add in the seats lost in Córdoba and Corrientes and Frente de Todos has just 35 senators to play with. by Gabriel Ziblat
ELECTIONS 2021 Initial results show opposition winning key races across country 14-11-2021 21:36 Opposition scores resounding victory in Buenos Aires City, while emerging with a lead in Buenos Aires Province; Preliminary results indicate that ruling Peronist coalition will lose majority in the Senate.
ELECTIONS 2021 Polling stations close as authorities reveal turnout up to 71% 14-11-2021 18:52 Interior Minister Eduardo 'Wado' de Pedro confirms that 71% of voters had cast a ballot by the time polling stations closed at 6pm. When the PASO primaries were held last September, turnout reached 67%.
ELECTIONS 2021 Massa: Alberto Fernández 'will call for dialogue with opposition' after vote 14-11-2021 17:14 President "will call for dialogue with opposition" after midterm elections whatever the result, says Lower House speaker as he casts vote.
ELECTIONS 2021: PREVIEW Ten races to watch in Argentina’s midterm elections 14-11-2021 08:57 Two issues will attract the most attention as Sunday night’s results come in: what happens in the provinces and whether Kirchnerismo loses quorum in the Senate. The results in Santa Fe, Chubut and La Pampa will be crucial. by Gabriel Ziblat
ELECTIONS 2021 President under pressure as polarised nation heads to polls 14-11-2021 08:14 President Alberto Fernández faces a crunch 24 hours as Argentina heads to the polls for crucial midterm legislative elections. Frente de Todos could lose control of Congress, in a vote already looking ahead to 2023.
BLOOMBERG Government faces midterm pain amid wrecked economy 12-11-2021 06:00 Voters will pick half of the lower house seats and a third of the senate, in an election that will act as a crucial test for the government’s fragile unity.
ELECTIONS 2021 Nation prepares to vote in bellwether election 12-11-2021 05:59 Country heads to the ballot box for crucial legislative elections that could determine President Alberto Fernández's ability to govern effectively for the next two years.
DIPLOMACY Biden's nominee for US envoy criticises Argentina’s policy on Venezuela and Cuba 26-10-2021 16:36 Marc Stanley, Joe Biden’s nominee for next US ambassador to Argentina, uses confirmation hearing to criticise Argentina’s foreign policy approach on Venezuela, Cuba and Nicaragua, while calling for a “macroeconomic plan” from Alberto Fernández administration.
BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO Brazil Senate committee recommends 10 pandemic charges against Bolsonaro 20-10-2021 13:20 Senate committee in Brazil recommends that President Jair Bolsonaro face at least 10 charges, including crimes against humanity, over his handling of the Covid-19 pandemic.
Guest voice The case for streamlining Congress 16-10-2021 00:01 Streamlining Congress would establish criteria of austerity, meritocracy and transparency in the use of human resources, but has not been considered for the past two decades. by Gabriel C. Salvia
ELECTIONS 2021: MIDTERMS Opposition nationalises campaign, keeping Frente de Todos on its feet 10-10-2021 10:41 Juntos por el Cambio prioritises five senatorial seats in upcoming midterms, part of a bid to strip Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner of her majority in the Senate; A look at the candidates on tour, the key battlegrounds and strategic aims for the opposition coalition. by Ezequiel Spillman
PASO 2021: OPINION & ANALYSIS November repeat would leave Frente de Todos losers in both Houses of Congress 14-09-2021 15:20 With their lower house margin potentially down to one deputy and the possible loss of a comfortable Senate majority, the ruling coalition emerges badly damaged from last Sunday’s PASO primary voting. by Gabriel Ziblat
DEBT SWAP DEAL Buenos Aires Province scares creditors into accepting bond restructuring 31-08-2021 15:41 La Plata announced Monday that it had managed to restructure almost all its US$7.1 billion of defaulted debt, swapping it for new securities valued at just over 50 cents on the dollar. But some creditors say in practical terms they had no other choice than to accept the deal.
Bloomberg Creditors now split over Buenos Aires Province's restructuring offer 22-07-2021 15:54 Buenos Aires Province's creditors are now divided over a US$7.1-billion debt restructuring proposal, signalling that Argentina’s largest province still has work to do to emerge from default.
LGBT+ RIGHTS Chile senators approve gay marriage bill; one step left 21-07-2021 15:21 Senators in Chile passed a long-awaited bill Wednesday authorising same-sex marriage in what gay campaigners hope will be the penultimate step to its final approval.