This week will see intensified negotiations as Argentina tries to avoid a ninth sovereign default. Beyond Argentina, the spread of Covid-19 in the region will dominate the week ahead even as some countries tentatively loosen restrictions; yesterday, 17 May, the number of confirmed cases in Latin America and the Caribbean reached 500,000. … Read the rest
President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (AMLO) yesterday, 14 April, announced that he would be in favor of bringing forward a presidential recall referendum to 2021. Under current rules, the recall referendum would take place in March 2022 should a signature collection drive fulfill specific requirements.… Read the rest
This week, the future of the Mercosur/Mercosul trade bloc faces renewed uncertainty. Venezuela’s regime is reversing the limited economic liberalization of recent months as an upcoming anniversary serves as a reminder of the regime’s reliance on the military.… Read the rest
From this week, Mexico’s state oil company Pemex is a “fallen angel” following the latest downgrade to its credit ratings. Also this week, Argentina’s creditors will be wanting to see flexibility ahead of debt talks, while domestically, the government weighs up how to relax lockdown measures. … Read the rest
This week, in Brazil, a “War Budget” could be readied even as President Jair Bolsonaro’s contrarian approach to Covid-19 continues. In Argentina, a debt restructuring offer could finally be unveiled.… Read the rest
This week, existing quarantines in Argentina, Chile, and Colombia will remain in place heading into the Easter weekend – what happens from next week will be critical to watch as some governments weigh up the risk of social strife and the economic effects of a “lockdown shock” should lockdowns be extended.… Read the rest
This week, Brazil’s Congress should advance economic support measures even as President Jair Bolsonaro remains in denial about the seriousness of Covid-19. In Argentina, the government has – as expected – extended its quarantine measures amid concerns over how to sustain a lockdown of large numbers of informal workers.… Read the rest
This week, Brazil continues to prepare for the growing stress on its national health system arising from COVID-19 despite political rifts. Chile, which continues to tighten containment measures, has bowed to the inevitable and postponed the constitutional referendum set for late-April, when the peak of contagion in the country is expected.… Read the rest
The number of reported COVID-19 cases across the region remains relatively low by global terms. However, some stringent measures to limit the spread of the virus take effect this week in the likes of Chile, Colombia, Peru, and Argentina.… Read the rest
