It's been another week of breaking news in Argentina and this week, we hone in on corruption, perhaps the biggest theme in Argentine politics of late in a feisty edition of the Buenos Aires Times.
Kicking us off, journalist Federico Poore takes a look at the 'domino effect' that's rolling through the federal courts as a string of Kirchnerite figures and lawmakers find themselves before judges. In the last year and a half, a number of high-profile officials from Kirchnerite administrations — from former vice-president Amado Boudou to Julio De Vido have been arrested on embezzlement charges, yet some of those cases had been dormant for years. Consulting a range of experts, Poore asks if the Judiciary is rolling into gear only to adapt to the new political climate?
Keeping on the graft theme, one court in the United States this week has found itself making headlines across the world – and the story has a special relationship with Latin America. The so-called 'FIFAgate' trial, which is still ongoing, has made waves after a string of allegations by an Argentine sports marketing executive rocked the football and broadcasting worlds, exposing high-level corruption dating back decades. On Thursday, for example, Alejandro Burzaco testified at a New York trial he arranged to pay 30 football officials about US$160 million in bribes since the early 2000s. In this week's Times, we detail the most shocking allegations.
In domestic politics, the Mauricio Macri government looks set to raise temperatures with a new battle over law reform, this time regarding the so-called “Forest and Glaciers Protection Law” which has effectively stalled extraction projects in Argentina’s Andes mountains region since 2010. Reporting exclusively from the COP23 climate change conference in Bonn, Germany, Fermín Koop reports on the anger among environmentalists that has emerged since the news broke and tells how statements by Environment and Sustainable Development Minister Sergio Bergman questioning the legislation sparked renewed concerns.
We also focus in on Chile, which this week will hold a key presidential election. With former president Sebastián Piñera the clear favourite, we preview the race and explain the crossroads that Chile now finds itself at. In an exclusive column, Carolina Barros offers her unique insight on the race, consulting one of presidential contenders Marco Enríquez-Ominami to gague his perceptions and speculating as to future for Argentina's neighbouring country.
In culture, Cristiana Visan points out the highlights of the Buenos Aires Jazz Festival, recommending the shows and sights you really shouldn't miss. In Sports, Dan Edwards reviews Argentina's recent two international football friendly matches and identifies the biggest challenges facing coach Jorge Sampaoli.
Robert Cox, meanwhile, pays tribute to former US president Jimmy Carter, who this week became the recipient of the Order of the Liberator General San Martín— the highest distinction the Argentine government can award. Carter, a long defender of human rights, pressured the last military dictatorship over the disappearance of Argentine citizens during the dark days of the late 1970s and early 1980s, and was presented with the award this week by Human Rights Secretary Claudio Avruj.
As well as rounding up all the most important developments in Argentina this week, we also feature exclusive columns from Agustino Fontevecchia, Michael Soltys, Andrew Graham-Yooll and James Neilson.
Make sure you pick up your copy of the Buenos Aires Times - the only English-language print newspaper in Argentina - this Saturday. You'll find us, as every week, inside your copy of Perfil!
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