News of ministry

Government seeks to speed up trials into crimes against humanity

12-10-2021 16:28 Human Rights Secretariat to launch strategic plan to accelerate crimes against humanity, aiming for four of five hearings a week. Cases involving elderly victims to be prioritised.

New hearing date set after Macri misses illegal espionage hearing

07-10-2021 23:15 Former president Mauricio Macri skips court hearing related to alleged spying on relatives of 44 crew-members who died in the ARA San Juan submarine tragedy.

Government forecasts 33% inflation, 4% growth in 2022 Budget

17-09-2021 14:07 Economy Minister Martín Guzmán meets deadline, submitting Budget bill to Congress at the last possible moment in the dead of night, as crisis raged in the ruling coalition.

Sinopharm delivery takes Argentina to 55 million vaccines against Covid-19

04-09-2021 10:12 According to government data, 46.3% of citizens aged over 18 have now completed their immunisation programme against Covid-19.

by James Grainger

Italy asks Chile to extradite 'Operation Condor' criminals

23-08-2021 16:19 Italy seeking extradition of three former members of Chile's military sentenced to life by European nation's courts for murdering two Italians in 1973.

Fernández swears in new Cabinet ministers Taiana and Zabaleta

13-08-2021 22:53 Ex-foreign minister Jorge Taiana returns to frontline politics, replacing Agustín Rossi as defence minister; Hurlingham Mayor Juan Zabaleta takes over Social Development Ministry.

Not even 50% inflation will make Argentina boost interest rates

23-07-2021 16:47 Central Bank rules out increasing interest rates for the foreseeable future, even as currency pressures mount and annual inflation climbs above 50%.

Former vice-president Amado Boudou granted parole

23-07-2021 15:33 Argentina’s former vice-president, jailed for crimes related to the irregular acquisition of a major money-printing firm, granted parole after serving two-thirds of his 70-month prison sentence.

Brazil environment minister resigns amid graft investigation

24-06-2021 09:46 Ricardo Salles announces resignation, just over a month after the Supreme Court ordered an investigation into allegations he was involved in a timber-trafficking scandal.

Crypto mining booms on cheap, subsidised energy in Argentina

31-05-2021 10:41 Bitcoin miners are capitalising on the inefficiencies of the country’s interventionist economy to reap outsize returns, fuelled by memories of currency busts and powered by government-subsidised electricity.

Colombia criticises Fernández’s comments over policing of protests

08-05-2021 00:13 President Iván Duque's government "firmly rejects" comments by Peronist leader Alberto Fernández that criticised "institutional violence" against protesters, who have been demonstrating for more than a week.

Question marks over Guzmán’s tenure as economy minister

04-05-2021 22:09 Martín Guzmán’s bid to force out Energy Undersecretary Federico Basualdo – frustrated for now despite counting on the support of President Alberto Fernández – has reignited rumours over the economy minister’s future and exposed infighting among the ruling coalition.

Vaccination plan advances but with difficulties, as second wave nears

03-04-2021 07:57 Confirmed cases now total 2.37 million, with more than 56,000 fatalities. To date, more than four million vaccines have been given.

Argentina registers highest daily Covid caseload in two months

27-03-2021 08:26 Almost 13,000 new cases confirmed by authorities, sparking speculation over whether the long-awaited ‘second wave’ has now reached the country.

Profile: Martín Soria, Argentina’s next justice minister

17-03-2021 15:28 After week of speculation, President Alberto Fernández chooses Río Negro deputy Martín Soria as Marcela Losardo’s successor. A vocal critic of “lawfare,” 45-year-old Kirchnerite lawmaker is in line with Vice-President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s views on the Judiciary.

Argentina resorts to unorthodox tools to fight 40% inflation

17-03-2021 13:24 Argentina is once again turning to a combination of unconventional policy tools to curb inflation, which is expected to near 40 percent this year.

Carla Vizzotti takes up reins of Health Ministry

27-02-2021 07:21 Former health access secretary, 48, is a vaccine specialist best known for being the public face of the government’s daily coronavirus briefings.

Government struggles to contain ‘VIP vaccine’ scandal

27-02-2021 07:06 Opposition leaders pile on pressure over “vaccinations of privilege,” accusing ruling Peronist coalition of seeking to “vaccinate a Kirchnerite oligarchy.”

Government to investigate food companies amid price clampdown

17-02-2021 14:28 Production & Development Ministry plans to investigate several food companies for not “increasing production to its highest level of installed capacity” and ensuring proper delivery.

Marcela Losardo: 'Alberto Fernández has been preparing all his life for this job'

30-01-2021 07:46 Throughout the last 40 years, nobody has spent more time close to the president than his Justice Minister Marcela Losardo, his chief confidante.

by Jorge Fontevecchia