News of mauricio macri

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Fernández: New offer to creditors on way, deadline moved to August 4

05-07-2020 22:10 Argentina to present new offer to bondholders on Monday, with deadline extended until August 4.

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE SCANDAL

The curse of power in Argentina

04-07-2020 08:06 Several of the major corruption cases of the K decade could end up being dropped due to procedural abuses, aiding the newfound lack of political motivation of most magistrates.

by Agustino Fontevecchia

ILLEGAL ESPIONAGE CLAIMS

AFI conducted illegal espionage on more than 400 journalists during Macri era

08-06-2020 00:12 Cristina Caamaño, government-appointed trustee of AFI federal intelligence agency, files complaint alleging officials conducted illegal espionage on 500 journalists, academics and business leaders, including two Buenos Aires Times staffers, during the Mauricio Macri administration's time in office.

SECURITY FORCES

PRO condemns institutional violence in statement

05-06-2020 01:49 Party of former president Mauricio Macri condemns actions of security forces and calls for "peace and security" – prompting an immediate backlash on social media.

FORMER PRESIDENT

Macri, ex-spy agency chiefs face probe over alleged illegal espionage

29-05-2020 16:47 Former president Mauricio Macri indicted as part of investigation into claims more than 80 individuals – including journalists and politicians – were victims of illegal espionage from AFI spy agency during his 2015-2019 government.

VICE-PRESIDENT

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner files ‘lawfare’ writ with IACHR

05-05-2020 23:22 Télam confirms former president has filed writ before Inter-American Commission on Human Rights accusing previous Macri government of "political discrimination and persecution."

Coronavirus pandemic

Macri signs manifesto accusing government of creeping 'authoritarianism'

23-04-2020 23:44 Document issued by Madrid-based Fundación Internacional para la Libertad, signed by former president and a host of PRO officials, accuses Fernández administration of using pandemic as an excuse to introduce authoritarian measures.

Spin-doctor's assessment

Durán Barba praises Fernández's handling of coronavirus crisis

09-04-2020 23:27 Political guru, who helped Macri to presidency in 2015, tells Juntos por el Cambio leaders to "think about the country" and "stand as Argentines, rather than as the opposition."

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

35.5% of Argentines were living in poverty at end of 2019, says INDEC

01-04-2020 23:01 Some 16 million people were considered to be living below the poverty line at the end of 2019, according to official data published Tuesday.

Coronavirus Pandemic

Surveys show strong support for Fernández's handling of virus crisis

27-03-2020 15:26 Although economic concerns run high among the Argentine population, polling suggests most Argentines approve of Peronist leader's measures to mitigate the harms of Covid-19.

by Jennifer Heiman

Cross Kirchnerite

Boudou: ‘Macri's was the most corrupt government in history’

10-03-2020 21:57 Jailed former vice-president Amado Boudou renews talk of 'lawfare,' criticises farming sector strike and alleges Mauricio Macri persecuted his opponents to cover up corrupt exploits.

Interview

BBC correspondent Jonny Dymond: 'It's very difficult to ignore Argentina'

06-03-2020 11:54 Ahead of next week's BBC World Questions panel debate in Buenos Aires, Royal Correspondent Jonny Dymond discusses global commonalities, Harry and Meghan and swotting up on Argentina.

by Anina Hoffman

Bloomberg

Brazil, Argentina compete Inter-American development bank top job

04-03-2020 16:50 Brazil is pushing for its own candidates to lead the Inter-American development bank, competing with Argentina; a decision will likely come between July and September.

Abortion debate

Silvia Lospennato: 'Numbers are good' in lower house for abortion vote

04-03-2020 14:05 Opposition lawmaker, who drew headlines in 2018 after impassioned plea during abortion debate in Congress, praises President Fernández's leadership in renewed push to legalise procedure in Argentina.

INVESTIGATION

Barros Schelotto, Tevez linked to Macri family wind farm business

28-02-2020 08:00 Former Boca Juniors coach Guillermo Barros Schelotto and star forward Carlos Tevez contributed nearly US$18 million to Macri’s family business, Sideco Americana, which in 2016 acquired six wind farms – purchases that are now being investigated by the courts.

by Emilia Delfino

Salary Disputes

Teachers: Main unions reach agreement with government on pay

27-02-2020 16:59 Collective bargaining talks for teachers, frozen since 2017, ends with agreement: 23,000 peso pay-floor from March, rising to 25,000 pesos in July.

Debt Crisis

IMF says debt talks with Argentina are 'conversations, not negotiations'

27-02-2020 16:11 IMF spokesperson Gerry Rice tempers excitement over debt restructuring, noting that Argentina and the IMF have yet to formally open negotiations over how to restructure US$44 billion credit-line.

ECONOMIST

Ex-INDEC director Jorge Todesca dies at 73

21-02-2020 16:58 Economist tasked with restoring the integrity of the INDEC under the Macri administration has died just weeks after leaving his post, family confirms.

Bloomberg

Default rocks the Argentine brokers who sell soy to the world

21-02-2020 12:23 Soy giant Vicentin files for bankruptcy, posing a threat to the Argentine soy industry.

BLOOMBERG: OPINION

Argentina’s government needs to speak with one voice on debt

21-02-2020 08:38 Before Argentina can come up with a solid economic plan, it needs a credible political pact. That takes a government which speaks with one voice, mutes the palace incendiaries and treats debt and economic recovery not as a passion play but as part of a national business plan.

by Mac Margolis

Federal investigation

Judge probes whether Messi was spied on by government agencies

20-02-2020 20:28 Federal justice is investigating whether former Macri administration officials illegally used information systems to spy on star Lionel Messi, as well as dozens of local politicians, judges, journalists and businessmen.

by Cecilia Devanna

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Fernández revokes Macri decree creating witness protection agency

20-02-2020 16:51 DNU, issued in final days of Macri's time in office, would have seen responsibilities for witness protection taken away from Justice Ministry in favour of a specialist, autonomous agency.

DEBT TALKS

Famed economist concerned Argentina is on road to 'total default'

20-02-2020 09:00 Economists, including respected Turkish academic Nouriel Roubini, warn that Argentina's lack of credibility and a coherent economic plan may mean negotiations with IMF end up fruitless.

JUNTOS POR EL CAMBIO

Mauricio Macri quietly returns to political activity

18-02-2020 10:06 Former president opens new office on Avenida del Libertador, three blocks from the Olivos presidential residence; meets with Rodríguez Larreta, Patricia Bullrich and Pichetto.

by Ezequiel Spillman

DEBT RESTRUCTURING

Cristina raises stakes for Argentina's crucial talks with IMF

15-02-2020 09:17 Vice-president lays into IMF, as government officials welcome mission team to Argentina.

E-Commerce Giant

Marcos Galperin resigns as president and CEO of MercadoLibre

14-02-2020 16:12 Argentine entrepeneur, who has led website to multi-billion-dollar success, will be replaced by Brazilian businessman Stelleo Passos Tolda.

Colectivo chaos

38 bus routes affected by 24-hour UTA dissident strike

11-02-2020 12:52 Dissident faction of transport-workers union makes move against UTA leader Roberto Fernández, as it decries falling purchasing power.

Economic Crisis

Argentine Senate passes debt-restructuring bill

06-02-2020 13:02 The Fernández administration will have significant leeway in determining how to restructure the debt, which currently sits at around US$335 billion

Delaying Debt

Fidelity wins big on Buenos Aires bond payment

05-02-2020 12:25 Buenos Aires Province avoids immediate default by agreeing to use money from its coffers to make a principal debt payment, Kicillof says.

DEBT TALKS

Chamber of Deputies approves government's debt restructuring bill

29-01-2020 16:46 Lawmakers in lower house Chamber of Deputies back bill to restructure the country's external public debt during special session. It will head to the Senate next week.

Ex-president's new job

Football figures in Argentina criticise Macri's new FIFA post

29-01-2020 13:18 Former president's new job leading FIFA Foundation enrages many in the local footballing community, including the heads of both AFA and the Superliga.

BBC INTERVIEW

Stiglitz: 'Macri bet the house and lenders followed him blindly'

29-01-2020 12:19 Famed economist and mentor to Martín Guzmán offers his take on renegotiation of Argentina's debt, questioning creditors and criticising the Mauricio Macri government.

RETURN TO FOOTBALL

Mauricio Macri lands new job as president of FIFA Foundation

28-01-2020 12:53 Former president agrees to take up post leading independent branch of football's governing body, which has been blighted by corruption scandals for years.

Bloomberg

Clean energy boom threatened by Argentina’s free-market fizzle

28-01-2020 12:50 Macri-era investment into clean energy along Argentina's Atlantic coast will be difficult to sustain in current economic climate, writes Jonathan Gilbert.

VACA MUERTA

Oil companies and unions agreed on a temporary no layoffs clause

23-01-2020 14:31 The unions representing oil workers and the sector's business chambers agreed to roll back 600 layoffs and 1,200 suspensions in the country's different basins while waiting for production to pick up and activity to resume.

Argentine exodus?

'Pepe' Mujica rejects Lacalle Pou's tax incentive for Argentines

17-01-2020 16:40 Former president rejects incoming leader's idea of tempting Argentines over the Río de la Plata and said efforts should focus instead on investing Uruguayan capital back into the country.

CENTRAL BANK

Central Bank cuts interest rates for fourth time in just over a month

17-01-2020 13:49 The reforms consist of a reduction in interest rates to improve demand and will allow companies to send foreign currency to enhance international trade and capital control.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

53.8%: Argentina posts the highest inflation rate in 28 years

15-01-2020 17:51 INDEC reveals prices last year increased by the highest rate since 1991, with inflation in December coming in at 3.7%.

ECONOMIC MEASURES

Kulfas praises businesses as government re-launches Precios Cuidados

08-01-2020 17:46 Government re-launches price-controls scheme with a list of 310 items, which includes "leading brand" products "at reasonable prices," according to officials.

Envoy in Buenos Aires

Foreign Ministry withdraws 'special' status of Guaidó's envoy in Argentina

07-01-2020 16:10 Government officials retract "special mission" status granted to Elisa Trotta Gamus, who was feted by former president Mauricio Macri as opposition leader's ambassador in Buenos Aires.

PETROL PRICES

Uncertainty after Fernández orders YPF to halt rise in petrol prices

03-01-2020 07:00 President’s decision to order the YPF state oil company to halt a five percent increase in petrol prices creates uncertainty among producers and suppliers.

PUBLIC TRANSPORT

Six-month freeze for public transport fares in Greater Buenos Aires

27-12-2019 15:03 Government announces freeze of public transport fares in and around the capital for six months, as it undertakes a comprehensive review of increases.

Ley de Solidaridad

Government publishes emergency economic measures in Official Gazette

24-12-2019 09:02 Sweeping economic passage published as Alberto Fernández reveals IMF team will arrive in Buenos Aires for talks "in the coming days." President admits he hopes for single-digit inflation by 2023.

Bloomberg

Economy grows faster than expected, technically ending 18-month recession

18-12-2019 00:23 Argentina’s economy grew faster than expected in the third quarter, technically ending an 18-month recession.

Aborto Legal

New government publishes new guidelines for non-punishable abortions

13-12-2019 12:05 Change will make it harder for hospitals to deny women seeking to terminate pregnancies in cases of rape or endangerment to their health.

NEW PRESIDENT

Alberto Fernández’s five biggest economic challenges

12-12-2019 08:16 President-elect took power on December 10 facing a challenging economic and social crisis, with a deep recession and runaway inflation.

Buenos Aires Province

New Buenos Aires Province Governor Kicillof warns of 'emergency'

11-12-2019 14:47 In his first speech to lawmakers as chief of nation's most-populous province, former economy minister denounces failures of Mauricio Macri administration and says region faces an urgent emergency.

ARGENTINA'S NEW LEADER

Is Alberto Fernández the man to unite Argentina?

10-12-2019 18:02 New president has long been a discreet backroom operator. But on Tuesday he announced big plans to rid the country of its political polarisation.

Bloomberg

Argentina can’t pay debt until economy grows, says Fernández

10-12-2019 17:36 In his first presidential address, Fernández read off a list of challenging economic indicators he’s inherited, including the biggest debt load as a percentage of gross domestic product since 2004, when the country was in default – and he was Cabinet chief.

INAUGURATION

Alberto Fernández inaugurated as president of Argentina

10-12-2019 17:31 Peronist leader's inauguration marks the return of the country to the ranks of left-leaning nations at a moment of right-wing resurgence in the Western Hemisphere.