News of corruption

Domestic worker scandal puts pressure on INADI chief Donda

05-01-2021 23:10 Victoria Donda, head of the government’s anti-discrimination agency INADI, faces allegations she irregularly employed a maid for several years and then sought to solve problem by offering her employee a social plan or a state job.

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

2020: The year that was

02-01-2021 09:27 Economic crisis, rising poverty and unemployment, debt talks, creditors, the IMF, wealth tax, squatters, a police mutiny, the failed appropriation of Vicentin, alleged AFI espionage, ‘lawfare,’ corruption, legalised abortion, diplomacy, disappearances, the death of Diego Maradona… a lot happened in Argentina over the past 12 months, but it was all overshadowed by Covid-19.

by Michael Soltys

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: December 26 to January 2

02-01-2021 08:48 Our pick of the stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

POLITICS AND THE PANDEMIC

The Cabinet creaks

26-12-2020 09:47 The president is trying to drive home the message that he will not be steamrolled by the Kirchnerite wing into sacking half of his Cabinet.

by Martín Gambarotta

AS I SEE IT

Cristina, Alberto and the never-ending crisis

12-12-2020 09:51 Faced with a choice between much of the country and Cristina, Alberto let the moment pass and concentrated on trying to convince her he was as loyal a vassal as any mortal could conceivably be.

by James Neilson

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: December 5 to 12

12-12-2020 09:23 The stories that made the headlines over the last seven days.

AS I SEE IT

Buenos Aires under fire

05-12-2020 10:28 Cristina and her friends hope that by defunding the City government they will force the mayor to cut spending to the bone, which they assume should be enough to turn people against him.

by James Neilson

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Supreme Court set for key ruling on CFK graft probe

05-12-2020 09:41 Federal Cassation Court endorses validity of whistleblowers’ testimonies, but the attorneys for the defendants will take fight to the Supreme Court.

by Cecilia Devanna

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Supreme Court upholds ex-VP Boudou’s graft conviction

05-12-2020 09:32 Former vice-president’s conviction for irregularities in sale of Ciccone money-printing firm upheld.

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: November 28 to December 5

05-12-2020 09:27 Stories that caught our eye over the last seven days in Argentina.

by Michael Soltys

EDITORIAL

Robin Hood or the politics of envy?

05-12-2020 09:10 There is a need to look beyond the eternal rivalry of Buenos Aires City and Province to the nation as a whole. This is not a simple zero-sum game of robbing Peter to pay Paul between a middle-class city and a Peronist province.

THE WEEK IN ARGENTINA

What we learned this week: November 21 to 28

28-11-2020 09:04 Our pick of the stories from the last seven days (with the exception of just a mention of Maradona).

by Michael Soltys

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández de Kirchner acquitted in ‘cuadernos’ graft trial cases

28-11-2020 08:13 Federal judge Marcelo Martínez De Giorgi on Tuesday acquitted Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner in one of the corruption trials against her based on the so-called “cuadernos” notebooks detailing alleged public works graft.

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: November 14 to 21

21-11-2020 10:44 The most important stories from the last seven days in Argentina.

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.

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.

BRAZIL UNDER BOLSONARO

Bolsonaro’s son charged by prosecutors in money-laundering probe

04-11-2020 16:40 Prosecutors charge eldest son of President Jair Bolsonaro with money-laundering and embezzlement.

PERUVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Peru's Congress to retry president for impeachment

03-11-2020 10:45 Peru's Congress on Monday voted to try again to impeach President Martín Vizcarra for alleged "moral incapacity" after he survived a first attempt weeks ago.

CFK'S OPEN LETTER

Unity, in whatever form

31-10-2020 09:24 Both former presidents have given their blessing to an initial conversation that could work towards a broader social consensus.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

CATHOLIC CHURCH

'Unafraid' pope to escalate Vatican corruption fight

30-10-2020 14:12 Argentine pontiff hints he's preparing to ramp up his fight against corruption in the Vatican, weeks after the shock ousting of a cardinal over embezzlement accusations.

Corruption scandal

Brazilian senator caught hiding money 'between buttocks'

15-10-2020 19:38 A Brazilian lawmaker has stepped down from his position representing President Jair Bolsonaro’s government and been suspended from the Senate, after police searched his house and found allegedly illegally obtained cash hidden in his underwear.

Lava Jato

Bolsonaro says he 'ended' Lava Jato corruption probe

08-10-2020 17:10 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro said Wednesday that he has ended the country's biggest-ever corruption probe as there is "no more corruption in the government."

THE WEEK

What we learned this week: September 26 to October 3

03-10-2020 09:40 The pick of stories that caught our eye over the last seven days.

Corruption & the courts

Court confirms corruption trail for Fernández de Kirchner, De Vido

02-10-2020 01:18 Federal Criminal Cassation Court confirms trials of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, Julio De Vido and a host of businessmen, ruling objections from vice-president's legal team to be "inadmissible."

Impeachment bid

Peru president survives impeachment vote amid virus turmoil

21-09-2020 08:49 Martín Vizcarra easily survives an impeachment vote after opposition lawmakers failed to amass enough support to oust the Peruvian leader struggling with one of the world’s worst coronavirus outbreaks.

CORRUPTION, CONGRESS & THE COURTS

Fernández issues decree formalising removal of judges probing CFK

19-09-2020 10:25 Opposition walks out of Senate vote to decide fate of magistrates promoted during Macri presidency, accusing government of seeking impunity for Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

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.

LATIN AMERICA

Mexican president wants referendum on judging predecessors

15-09-2020 15:19 Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador on Tuesday asked the Senate for a referendum on whether to prosecute five of his predecessors over allegations including corruption.

Lava Jato

Brazil's Lula faces new charge of money-laundering

15-09-2020 08:24 Prosecutors in sprawling 'Lava Jato' corruption investigation charge former president with money-laundering, less than a year after the country's top court ordered him freed from jail while he appealed his conviction in another case.

Political turmoil in Peru

Peru police search homes of officials in impeachment case

13-09-2020 09:26 Police in Peru raid homes of key government officials as part of an investigation into allegations President Martín Vizcarra obstructed a graft probe.

Political turmoil in Peru

Peru in renewed political turmoil as Vizcarra faces impeachment

13-09-2020 09:16 Some of Peru's lawmakers are calling for the dismissal of President Martín Vizcarra based on audios in which he is heard coaching two officials close to him for a congressional investigation into corruption.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Lázaro Báez leaves jail for house arrest at ‘secret location’

12-09-2020 09:51 Kirchnerite tycoon leaves Ezeiza prison after more than four years behind bars. Residents block his entry to property at gated community he was due to reside at, sparking U-turn and search for new location.

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

Lava Jato

Brazil extends 'Lava Jato' corruption probe

10-09-2020 08:59 Brazilian attorney general's office extends country's biggest-ever corruption probe, Operação Lava Jato, until January 31, granting the increasingly controversial investigation a new lease of life.

KIRCHNERITE TYCOON

Lázaro Báez granted house arrest – but protests keep him behind bars

08-09-2020 16:50 Kirchnerite businessman Lázaro Báez, behind bars for more than four years over corruption and money-laundering allegations, granted house arrest. But residents at the gated community at which he is due to reside block access to his property.

Court ruling

Ecuador upholds graft sentence for former president Rafael Correa

08-09-2020 09:16 Ecuadorean court confirms former president's eight-year prison term for corruption, blocking his vice-presidency run in next year's elections and landing him a lifetime disqualification from future ballots.

JUDICIAL REFORM

In the oven

15-08-2020 09:59 What’s troubling, and could mark a complete breaking point between the ruling coalition and the opposition, is the president’s judicial reform bill.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

CORRUPTION SCANDAL

Mexico: Odebrecht allegedly paid for slick 2012 campaign

12-08-2020 13:41 Mexicans were inundated by a slick, expensive ad campaign on behalf of Enrique Peña Nieto for the 2012 election. Prosecutors now say it was funded by Odebrecht, the Brazilian construction giant linked to widespread corruption in Latin America.

Venezuela in Crisis

Citgo oil executives, held two years, go to trial in Venezuela

07-08-2020 15:36 Six US oil executives were arrested on embezzlement charges in 2017. Now, this lingering case has taken on a new sense of urgency.

VICE-PRESIDENT

CFK sues Google over 'thief of the nation' search engine result

06-08-2020 18:13 The complaint stems from May 17 when a Google search into the former president's name returned a result with "Thief of the Argentine Nation" in the place where her political position should have been.

AS I SEE IT

Making a monkey of the law

01-08-2020 10:10 In Argentina, where many think all politicians are crooks, millions are more than happy to vote for individuals they know have always been on the take and who, if elected, will continue to put their personal business interests before anything to do with the welfare of their compatriots.

by James Neilson

WEEKLY ROUND-UP

What we learned this week: July 25 to August 1

01-08-2020 09:18 The most important stories that caught our eye in the last seven days.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Trial into alleged public works graft, with CFK in dock, to restart next week

28-07-2020 22:09 Trial into alleged corruption in the awarding of public works contracts to restart online next Monday after suspension due to coronavirus pandemic.

Interpol operation

Mafia fugitives arrested in Palermo in drug-smuggling sting

24-07-2020 16:42 Three alleged members of the Calabrian 'Ndrangheta mafia organisation were arrested in Buenos Aires last week and are now being processed for extradition to Italy. The sting was part of a larger Interpol investigation of 45 members of the organisation who are spread across the world.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Anti-Corruption Office seeks eight-year prison sentence for Lázaro Báez

22-07-2020 11:21 Anti-Corruption Office asks for prison sentence of more than eight years for Kirchnerite tycoon Lázaro Báez on charges of money-laundering and eight years for his eldest son Martín as trial restarts online.

Causa peajes

Judge sends two ex-Macri administration officials to trial

21-07-2020 21:50 Charges against former National Highways director Javier Iguacel and ex-Treasury prosecutor Bernardo Saravia Frías relate to presumed irregularities in the awarding of highway toll concessions.

POLARISATION AT WHAT PRICE?

Argentina: Great at failing miserably at democracy

11-07-2020 08:19 What level of tolerance to dissent are we willing to accept? And at which point does the discussion about who thinks what shut out the underlying debates we should be having?

by Agustino Fontevecchia

News of corruption

Domestic worker scandal puts pressure on INADI chief Donda

2020: The year that was

What we learned this week: December 26 to January 2

The Cabinet creaks

Cristina, Alberto and the never-ending crisis

What we learned this week: December 5 to 12

Buenos Aires under fire

Supreme Court set for key ruling on CFK graft probe

Supreme Court upholds ex-VP Boudou’s graft conviction

What we learned this week: November 28 to December 5

Robin Hood or the politics of envy?

What we learned this week: November 21 to 28

Fernández de Kirchner acquitted in ‘cuadernos’ graft trial cases

What we learned this week: November 14 to 21

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

Peruvian Congress chooses centrist Francisco Sagasti as new president

Merino resigns as Peru president after five days in power

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

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

Bolsonaro’s son charged by prosecutors in money-laundering probe

Peru's Congress to retry president for impeachment

Unity, in whatever form

'Unafraid' pope to escalate Vatican corruption fight

Brazilian senator caught hiding money 'between buttocks'

Bolsonaro says he 'ended' Lava Jato corruption probe

What we learned this week: September 26 to October 3

Court confirms corruption trail for Fernández de Kirchner, De Vido

Peru president survives impeachment vote amid virus turmoil

Fernández issues decree formalising removal of judges probing CFK

Fernández signs decree formalising removal of judges investigating CFK

Mexican president wants referendum on judging predecessors

Brazil's Lula faces new charge of money-laundering

Peru police search homes of officials in impeachment case

Peru in renewed political turmoil as Vizcarra faces impeachment

Lázaro Báez leaves jail for house arrest at ‘secret location’

What we learned this week: September 5 to 12

Brazil extends 'Lava Jato' corruption probe

Lázaro Báez granted house arrest – but protests keep him behind bars

Ecuador upholds graft sentence for former president Rafael Correa

In the oven

Mexico: Odebrecht allegedly paid for slick 2012 campaign

Citgo oil executives, held two years, go to trial in Venezuela

CFK sues Google over 'thief of the nation' search engine result

Making a monkey of the law

What we learned this week: July 25 to August 1

Trial into alleged public works graft, with CFK in dock, to restart next week

Mafia fugitives arrested in Palermo in drug-smuggling sting

Anti-Corruption Office seeks eight-year prison sentence for Lázaro Báez

Judge sends two ex-Macri administration officials to trial

Argentina: Great at failing miserably at democracy

Alberto: 'If Paul McCartney plays Blackbird in my office, I’ll stop eating meat'

Buenos Aires under fire

President Fernández holds talks with IMF chief Georgieva

President Fernández receives first dose of Russia’s Sputnik V vaccine

US adds sanctions on China's Huawei to limit technology access

Quién es Gabriela Piovano, la infectóloga que acusó de “agitador” a Wiñazki en vivo

El enredo de palabras de Axel Kicillof al criticar al periodismo: "Los huevos no tienen pelo"

Carrió debería aprender de Cristina

Neme contra Trotta: "Cómo volvemos al aula si son centros de detención ilegítimos"

Acusan de "estafador" al financista de Puerto Madero: “Le entregué todos mis ahorros y desapareció sin dejar rastros”