News of government

CRISIS IN VENEZUELA

Virus forges rare accord among Venezuela's bitter rivals, Maduro and Guaidó

Yesterdat 16:04 One-page agreement, signed June 1 by Maduro's health minister and National Assembly representative, says both sides will work in coordination to find funds for fighting the coronavirus.

Congress

Fernández confirms government will impose one-off wealth tax

Yesterdat 15:09 President says the introduction of a capital levy would be a one-off “extraordinary measure." Lawmakers say bill would boost government coffers by between US$2.5 million and US$4 billion.

THE ‘BARRIL CRIOLLO’

What is Argentina's US$45 'barril criollo' and how will affect local producers?

23-05-2020 09:31 Artificially fixed reference price for barril criollo imposed in move to defend jobs and output levels, with an eye keenly trained on Vaca Muerta shale.

Coronavirus pandemic

Villa 31 community leader's death from Covid-19 sparks anger

19-05-2020 02:22 Ramona Medina, key Villa 31 community leader and resident, dies just days after denouncing 12 days without drinking water in her barrio. 'La Garganta Poderosa' accuses authorities of failing to protect residents in vulnerable neighbourhoods.

EDITORIAL

Throwing stones from a glass house?

16-05-2020 08:57 The institutional monstrosity of allowing governments to choose anti-corruption officials entirely in the presidential (or vice-presidential) pocket puts both sides on the same sordid level.

CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC

Covid-19 death toll rises to 356, surge in infections sparks concern

16-05-2020 08:12 President Alberto Fernández hails local researchers for developing new ‘faster, more efficient’ Covid-19 testing kits.

PATRICIA BULLRICH INTERVIEW

Patricia Bullrich: ‘We can’t remain silent over abuses of power’

16-05-2020 07:21 Ex-security minister and PRO party leader, Patricia Bullrich, discusses the role of the opposition, her relationship with Macri and Peña and why she thinks Alberto Fernández is mishandling the coronavirus pandemic.

by Julian D'Imperio

Coronavirus pandemic

Education minister says schools in Argentina may re-open in August

12-05-2020 13:17 Education minister speculates over August return for classes, but says students would go to school only two or three times a week, with a "dual system" of face-to-face teaching and online learning.

Coronavirus pandemic

Pandemic politics costing lives in Brazil

12-05-2020 13:09 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro keeps saying coronavirus fears are overblown. Other officials at the federal, state and local levels insist the danger is all too real. Meanwhile, the politicisation of the crisis is taking a heavy human toll.

Coronavirus pandemic

Argentina secures US$4-billion loan from Development Bank of Latin America

06-05-2020 17:58 The government has confirmed that it has secured a US$4-million loan from the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF) to assist its efforts to tackle the coronavirus pandemic.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Automobile sales slump to historic low amid Covid-19 pandemic

03-05-2020 10:05 Automobile sales in Argentina slumped to a historic low in April amid the economic crisis prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

MINISTRY POSITIONS

Production in a context of reduction

02-05-2020 10:58 Although always working with centre-left administrations, Kulfas has no political militancy or factional loyalty with his presence in the Cabinet entirely due to his personal links to President Fernández, as a leading member of his Grupo Callao think tank.

by Michael Soltys

Politics in the pandemic

Quarantine quarrels

02-05-2020 09:19 The president has reflexes but he often pauses before making a decision, creating a momentary vacuum that leaves room for misinformation to viralise.

by Martín Gambarotta

Coronavirus pandemic

As cases rise, City officials analyse new dates for 'peak of the curve'

01-05-2020 12:42 City government now forecasts that the "peak of the curve" could occur between the last week of May and the first week of June, after a rise in the number of people infected in the last few days.

by Ezequiel Spillman

UNITED STATES

I'm a small business owner in the US – will I get a coronavirus bailout too?

01-05-2020 12:16 The US government’s US$350-billion loan fund has run dry – yet many big businesses have been awarded millions.

by * Reprinted with kind permission from the author.

ANSES

President Fernández fires ANSES chief Alejandro Vanoli

30-04-2020 15:19 Buenos Aires Province Community Development Minister Fernanda Raverta, a La Cámpora militant and former Unidad Ciudadana national deputy

Fight against virus

Government likely to issue second 10,000-peso allowance to families in May

29-04-2020 13:14 Government considering a new round of the ‘Ingreso Familiar de Emergencia’ payment in May, the 10,000-peso subsidy that some eight million single-income earners, people on social benefits and informal workers have signed up for.

Coronavirus pandemic

UK government confirms 2 charter flights for Brits stranded in Argentina

29-04-2020 01:19 Around 320 British travellers currently stranded in Argentina will be able to return home on two flights, scheduled for May 7 and 12, departing Buenos Aires Ezeiza International Airport.

Coronavirus pandemic

Government bans selling of tickets for flights until September 1

27-04-2020 13:15 Commercial travel to, from and within Argentina effectively banned until September under new rules issued by National Administration of Civil Aviation.

BLOOMBERG

Analysts: Buenos Aires Province bondholder offer headed for rejection

24-04-2020 17:08 Proposal by Argentina’s largest province to restructure US$7 billion of international debt draws immediate criticism from analysts.

survival during quarantine

The agony of Colombia's quarantined sex workers

22-04-2020 14:18 Survival has become a struggle for Colombia's sex workers during the coronavirus pandemic lockdown. Now, with half of humanity in confinement and those places off limits, they are struggling on handouts and meager savings.

CORONAVIRUS QUARANTINE

Government deputies push for online sessions and wealth tax

18-04-2020 09:28 Government deputies in Congress are working on a bill for a one-off wealth tax on big fortunes to finance the sanitary and social campaign against the new coronavirus pandemic.

Diplomatic effort

Mexico, Argentina, Chile and Uruguay jointly repatriate 386 people

15-04-2020 00:25 Group had been affected by the closure of respective borders and cancellations of commercial flights due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Coronavirus pandemic

Government postpones local debt payments due in dollars until end of year

06-04-2020 09:23 The government has issued a decree to defer close to US$9.8 billion in local dollar-denominated debt payments until 2021.

Coronavirus pandemic

Huge queues outside banks as they open doors during lockdown

03-04-2020 20:23 For the first time since the nationwide lockdown, retired Argentines and receiving social security payments left their homes in droves as banks reopened their branches.

Coronavirus pandemic

Government issues decree banning unjustified lay-offs for 60 days

01-04-2020 22:13 Short decree issued by government, signed by all Cabinet members, bans dismissals and layoffs "due to force majeure or the lack or diminishment of work” for the next 60 days.

Coronavirus pandemic

Clearing banks freed to pay salaries during quarantine

25-03-2020 16:33 Central Bank to allow the financial system to resume processing cheques, in order to allow the payment of wages.

Coronavirus pandemic

Government to grant 10,000-peso allowance to soften virus impact

24-03-2020 14:30 Officials announce delivery of 10,000 pesos in April in a single payment to self-employed in both A and B categories and to informal workers, benefitting around 3.6 million households.

British Embassy in Buenos Aires

Note from the British Embassy to British nationals in Argentina

21-03-2020 10:01 On 19 March, Argentina introduced a nationwide quarantine that will last until midnight on Tuesday, March 31. Here's what British nationals in Argentina need to know.

BLOOMBERG - OPINION

Coronavirus reopens fiscal debate for Brazil and Latin America

18-03-2020 15:08 Even if most Latin American countries have yet to manifest the full brunt of the pandemic, economic contagion is already at hand.

by Mac Margolis

DEBT TALKS

Washington backs Alberto on debt but fears the ‘CFK risk’

14-03-2020 10:08 The United States government is backing President Alberto Fernández’s debt restructuring efforts and hopes he will emerge strengthened after a successful outcome.

by Patricia Valli

Coronavirus pandemic

Brazilian official who met Trump tests positive for Covid-19

12-03-2020 13:21 Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro's communications chief, who met Donald Trump during an official weekend visit to the US leader's Florida resort, has tests positive for the new coronavirus.

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.

Vaca Muerta

YPF slows shale exploration due to price controls

09-03-2020 15:55 State-owned oil company will back off from shale exploration as government price controls reduce potential revenue.

CORRUPTION & THE COURTS

Court orders ex-planning minister Julio de Vido's release

05-03-2020 14:11 Court orders veteran Veteran Kirchnerite official and ex-federal planning minister's release, saying he has been "detained for a period longer than the maximum legal term of two years."

POLITICS & CONGRESS

Fernández set to outline agenda in speech to Congress

28-02-2020 07:00 Abortion, agriculture, pensions and debt restructuring expected to be included in Peronist leader’s address to lawmakers this Sunday.

Bloomberg

Argentina set to hit farmers with more taxes to fix budget woes

27-02-2020 12:32 President Alberto Fernández plans to raise export levies on soybeans. The taxes will rise to 33% from the current rate of 30%, according to Bloomberg.

VIRUS OUTBREAK

Coronavirus outbreak: Tests in Argentina come back negative

18-02-2020 12:00 Scientists say tests on samples have come back negative. Argentines in Hubei province – the epicentre of the outbreak – ask government for help in leaving China.

FUEL PRICES

Government extends fuel price freeze until end of February

30-01-2020 13:38 Fernández administration to retain restrictions until the end of February in order to curb inflation.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina eager to boost lithium production, says official

24-01-2020 13:41 The government is determined to boost lithium and copper production, says mining secretary in Washington

Bloomberg

Buenos Aires Province asks to delay debt payment

14-01-2020 08:06 Axel Kicillof's provincial government asks bondholders of its 2021 notes to delay a principal payment due later this month, as national government's talks with creditors gear up.

INTERVIEW WITH PERFIL

Evo Morales discusses MAS, future plans, potential return to Bolivia

09-01-2020 21:28 Former Bolivia president sticks to his guns in an exclusive interview with Perfil journalist Leandro Dario, insisting that his exit last spring was the result of a coup d’état engineered by the opposition and Washington

FERNÁNDEZ'S FIRST MONTH

Fernández walks tightrope as he celebrates first month in office

09-01-2020 20:00 A month into his presidency, Peronist leader has embarked on an ambitious and risky juggling act in a bid to drag Argentina out of its worst economic crisis in almost 20 years.

Buenos Aires Province

Kicillof accuses opposition of ‘robbing revenue' after tax reform changes

09-01-2020 15:28 Buenos Aires Province governor makes remarks after provincial legislature gives final approval to his tax reform package – but only after opposition senators amended original bill.

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.

SPANISH POLITICS

Spanish PM Sánchez to stay on after aligning with Podemos

07-01-2020 12:51 Spain's Parliament on Tuesday narrowly confirmed Socialist leader Pedro Sánchez as prime minister for another term, paving the way for the country's first-ever coalition government since its return to democracy in the 1970s.

Bloomberg

Fernández administration walks a fine line on Venezuela crisis

07-01-2020 08:13 Complications from crisis in Venezuela highlight president's delicate balancing act over an issue that is splitting Latin America’s political allegiances.

CAPITAL CONTROLS

‘Strict’ foreign-exchange controls to stay in place, says Kulfas

05-01-2020 08:26 “In the current context, strict exchange rate regulations are inevitable,” says production minister

Ley de Solidaridad

Cafiero: Government will approve emergency economic measures today

23-12-2019 17:23 "The enactment will be today," says Cabinet Chief.

INTERVIEW

Argentina is in 'virtual default,' declares President Fernández

23-12-2019 08:53 "It is not the same as 2001, but it is similar," Fernández said in an interview with TV programme La Cornice. "Today we are in virtual default."