News of government

Bloomberg

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

Today 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."

BOLIVIAN POLITICAL CRISIS

Evo Morales summons party leaders for talks on Argentine-Bolivia border event

23-12-2019 00:06 Exiled former Bolivian president says his Movement for Socialism (MAS) party will hold event on border with Bolivia – most likely in Salta Province – to decide candidates for next election.

BLOOMBERG – ANALYSIS

Fernández secures sweeping powers to conduct debt talks

22-12-2019 22:29 President will now have more authority to negotiate with creditors, raise worker salaries and hike taxes. Government secured passage with concessions including lower export taxes on oil, gas and mining, and tax relief for small farmers.

NEW PM IN HAVANA

Cuba names tourism minister as first prime minister since 1976

22-12-2019 17:04 Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel names Manuel Marrero Cruz as the country's first prime minister since 1976.

NEW ERA IN ARGENTINA

Around the crisis in 180 days

21-12-2019 10:49 With extra powers and an economic Cabinet that politically responds to his directives, the president would be able to claim the credit of success – but he would also have to pay the full price of failure.

by Marcelo J. Garcia

Ley de Solidaridad

Fernández's economic emergency law wins approval in Senate

21-12-2019 09:13 Sweeping legislative package will include imposing tax increases on sectors of the upper and middle classes, as well as providing tax incentives for production and tax benefits to the most impoverished.

EMERGENCY BILL

Senate set to approve Fernández’s emergency bill

21-12-2019 08:20 After a marathon session, lawmakers in the Chamber of Deputies approve new president’s legislative project, sending bill to Senate.

ECONOMIC MEASURES

Government announces new tax hikes, sends 'emergency bill' to Congress

18-12-2019 01:00 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán confirms trailed measures designed to boost growth, including higher export levies, 30% tax on foreign currency purchases, freeze on public utility prices, and bonus for pensioners

NEW MEASURES

Government confirms 30% charge on overseas purchases coming

16-12-2019 07:05 Argentina will return to a “tourist dollar” policy, under which foreign transactions face a 30% surcharge over the official rate, Cabinet Chief Santiago Cafiero confirms.

NEW MEASURES

Government raises export taxes to fund new spending

16-12-2019 06:49 Fernández is replacing a levy of four pesos per dollar for many exports with a fixed charge of nine percent, according to a decree in the Official Gazette.

NEW CABINET

Meet Martín Guzmán, Argentina's next economy minister

09-12-2019 14:07 New economy minister, who is close to Nobel-Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz, is seen as a critic of the International Monetary Fund.

BLOOMBERG

Political swing hits Glencore partner at top soy plant

06-12-2019 10:04 Upcoming change of government leaves nation’s top shipper of soybean meal and oil in a financial bind.

CABINET

Felipe Solá will be foreign minister, confirms Alberto Fernández

05-12-2019 16:17 President-elect also confirms that former presidential candidate and ex-Buenos Aires Province governor Daniel Scioli will serve as his ambassador to Brazil.

TRUMP TRADE WARS

Argentina, Brazil debate response as Trump re-imposes steel, aluminium tariffs

02-12-2019 22:24 Government says in a statement it is considering "joint action" with Brazil, after US President Trump accuses two nations of currency manipulation and declares he’ll slap tariffs on their steel and aluminium imports in retaliation.

TRANSITION 2019

Fernández tells IMF chief Argentina will 'comply with debt obligations'

20-11-2019 09:49 President-elect tells IMF chief Kristalina Georgieva that he has a plan to grow the economy and tackle the nation’s debt without "more fiscal adjustments."

Bolivian Election Crisis

Why Macri should condemn the military intervention in Bolivia

12-11-2019 23:00 A critique of Foreign Minister Jorge Faurie's statement about the intervention of Armed Forces in Bolivia – and a call for President Macri to rectify a grave error.

by Gustavo González

TRANSITION 2019

Fernández struggles to counter narrative that Cristina will be in charge

11-11-2019 16:43 Alberto Fernández is Argentina's next president. But before even taking charge he is battling claims that he is just a puppet for ex-president Cristina Kirchner.

PRESIDENT-ELECT TELLS CGT

Alberto Fernández: 'The labour movement is part of my government'

08-11-2019 17:11 Argentina's next leader praises Perón at umbrella union group's headquarters as he attends meeting and calls on union leaders to back his social-economic pact.

Noticias

The political transition taboo: Who goes to jail and who will be freed

06-11-2019 07:00 Since the election, the Judiciary is the talk of the town for both Macristas and Kirchneristas – and especially among those with convictions for corruption who claim they are "political prisoners."

by Silvio Santamarina

BLOOMBERG

Why Venezuela will influence Argentina’s IMF talks

04-11-2019 17:07 An imposing debt load and uncertainty about his economic policies already limit Alberto Fernández’s room for a renegotiation of the record IMF credit line, but his views on the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro are also softer than those of outgoing Mauricio Macri.

RELATIONS WITH WASHINGTON

Alberto Fernández planning US trip to visit Trump, oil majors

04-11-2019 15:20 Spokespeople for the Frente de Todos leader confirm president-elect intends to visit the US after his assumption on December 10, for a trip that would include a meeting with Donald Trump and a stop in Houston, Texas.

BLOOMBERG

Fine print on Argentine bonds becomes crucial as default fears grow

01-11-2019 13:28 President-elect Alberto Fernández says Argentina needs debt relief. Investors are paying a premium for bonds that they think will give them more negotiating power in the event of a default.

TRANSITION

Macri tells Cabinet to offer 'maximum collaboration" to Alberto Fernández

31-10-2019 16:33 President uses Cabinet meeting to instruct officials to prepare "all elements and materials" for incoming government, with Peronist government set to take power on December 10.

signs from Washington

US tells Fernández it expects him to 'uphold commitments' in IMF deal

31-10-2019 09:56 US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin tells incoming government that Washington expects Argentina to uphold its commitments laid out in IMF loan package.

ELECTION 2019

Return of Peronism raises hopes – and expectations – among downtrodden

30-10-2019 17:49 Sunday's election result has created expectations among segments of poor, low-wage workers and excluded groups of better times ahead. But will rolling back the Macri adminstration's austerity measures be as simple as it sounds?

First appearance

Alberto Fernández promises governors he will lead 'a federal Argentina'

29-10-2019 14:29 In first public appearance since being elected president, Frente de Todos leader criticises Macri administration's policies and vows that "no-one else will go hungry in Argentina."

CRISTINA'S RETURN

Cristina Fernández de Kirchner returns to the corridors of power

29-10-2019 13:08 Former president, sitting senator and vice-president-elect is once again returning to a top position of power, a development that's rattling investors.

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

Arrival of Fernández set to deepen fragmentation in Latin America

29-10-2019 07:27 Peronist victory in Argentina's presidential election is set to cement a rift between region's largest nations, and suggests turbulence could extend for years.

ELECTION 2019

IMF chief: 'We look forward to engaging' with new Argentina government'

29-10-2019 07:05 "We look forward to engaging with his administration to tackle Argentina's economic challenges and promote inclusive and sustainable growth that benefits all Argentines," says IMF chief

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Argentine bonds decline in post-election trading, peso stable against dollar

28-10-2019 17:21 Local bonds dropped by the most in about eight weeks on Monday, as investors sought more clarity on economic policy under Alberto Fernández and his running-mate Cristina Fernández de Kirchner.

BLOOMBERG

Blow for farmers, boon for drillers? Election's winners and losers

28-10-2019 16:47 Agricultural producers fear shit in tax rates on soybeans, wheat and beef and tighter capital controls, but Fernández will likely do his best to spur drilling in Vaca Muerta and boost mining exports.

ELECTION 2019

Alberto Fernández gives Macri the names of his transition team

28-10-2019 16:03 At a breakfast meeting at the Casa Rosada, Peronist president-elect informs Mauricio Macri of the names of officials who will oversee the transition between the two governments.

INTERVIEW WITH NET TV

Durán Barba analyses Macri's defeat to Alberto Fernández

28-10-2019 02:41 Presidential advisor and political analyst addresses relationship between Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and president-elect Alberto Fernández. Yet he avoided specifics that led to Macri’s loss.

BLOOMBERG

Fernández wins in Argentina as voters rebuff Macri's austerity

28-10-2019 00:22 Opposition candidate wins presidential election, ousting pro-market incumbent Mauricio Macri at a time of economic crisis.

ELECTION 2019

Macri concedes defeat and extends a hand to Alberto Fernández

27-10-2019 22:39 President invites Peronist rival or breakfast at the Casa Rosada, describing Frente de Todos leader as "president-elect."

ELECTION 2019

First election results: Fernández 47.2%, Macri-Pichetto 41.4%

27-10-2019 21:16 Alberto Fernández emerges with near six-point lead with 71.58% of votes counted, as President Mauricio Macri improves performance on PASO primaries. Rodríguez Larreta on track to win City in first round, as is Kicillof in Province.

ELECTION 2019

Exit polls indicate Alberto Fernández wins election in first round

27-10-2019 20:00 Frente de Todos leader calls for unity after exit polls indicate Macri will lose election. Kicillof likely to win in Buenos Aires Province; Rodriguez Laretta to win race in the City.