News of policy

Venezuela drama

How will US bounty affect Maduro's hold on Venezuelan power?

29-03-2020 18:41 The accusation of "narco-terrorism" by the US put pressure on Maduro’s regime, but its consequence is uncertain: it will achieve either to support the opposition or an end to the South American country's long-running economic and political crises.

Bloomberg

OAS set for showdown over Trump’s Venezuela policy

20-03-2020 18:28 Luis Almagro's re-election to the head of the Organisation of AmericanStates has effectively turned into a test of the popularity of Donald Trump’s hard-line policy against Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro.

Bloomberg

Central Bank to pause run of rate cuts

12-03-2020 22:33 Central Bank plans to keep its policy rate unchanged, as it weighs the impact of sell-off on world markets.

RATE CUT

Central Bank cuts interest rate to 38%

06-03-2020 08:00 In its statement, the Central Bank’s committee said cooling prices justified the rate cut but that the economy wasn’t in the clear yet.

RATE CUT

Central Bank lowers key rate to 40%, extending cuts

19-02-2020 18:15 Central Bank chief Miguel Pesce justifies the rate cuts as a tool to help turn around Argentina’s economy, which is expected to contract for the third straight year in 2020.

RATE CUT

Central Bank cuts key interest rate for fifth time since December 10

30-01-2020 21:29 Rate floor cut to 48 percent on Thursday from 50 percent. Central bank chief Miguel Pesce has lowered it from 63 percent since taking office December 10.

First Foreign Trip

Symbolic and strategic: Fernández picks Israel for first foreign trip

17-01-2020 00:12 President’s decision to visit Jerusalem next week welcomed by Jewish community in Buenos Aires.

by Joseph Charney

MIGUEL PESCE INTERVIEW

Miguel Pesce: Central Bank will try to cut rates, slow inflation

09-01-2020 12:46 New Central Bank chief refuses to make inflation forecasts, saying he wants to rebuild the institution’s credibility “with results.”

PEW RESEARCH CENTER

Just 22% of Argentines believe Trump will do right thing on foreign policy

08-01-2020 17:16 New survey indicates pessimism over Trump’s leadership is particularly strong in Argentina, with 69% saying they had no confidence the US president would do the right thing in terms of foreign policy.

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.

KILLING OF QASSEM SOLEIMANI

Trump rattles Middle East, US politics with risky Iran strike

03-01-2020 14:32 As reports filtered out from Iraq that Qassem Soleimani had been killed in a US airstrike, some administration officials quietly acknowledged US involvement. Then, a tweet from the president: an image of the American flag, absent any commentary.

TRANSITION 2019

Sandleris confirms resignation as Central Bank chief

05-12-2019 06:58 Central Bank chief confirms he will resign post ahead of December 10 handover. Argentina's monetary institution has had 61 presidents in the 84 years since its founding.

NEW IAEA CHIEF

Rafael Grossi presses Iran about undeclared site, defends inspectors

04-12-2019 11:00 On his first day as director-general of the UN's nuclear watchdog agency, Argentine diplomat prompts Iran to break their silence regarding the particles of uranium found in an undeclared Tehran site.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina running dangerously low on dollars to pay back debt

12-11-2019 17:18 Argentina must repay US$5 billion by the end of 2019. It doesn’t have much to work with.

BLOOMBERG

Argentina’s new foreign policy: Who's advising Alberto Fernández

11-11-2019 14:47 Meet the three key players influencing the president-elect’s foreign policy.

LATAM

Grupo de Puebla summit highlights Argentina’s new direction under Fernández

09-11-2019 08:49 Argentina’s new political direction under president-elect Alberto Fernández was on display on Buenos Aires on Friday, as progressive leaders from across Latin America gathered for a Grupo de Puebla summit.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

Central Bank alters 2019 forecasts: 3% drop in GDP, inflation at 55.6%

05-11-2019 14:15 Monthly survey carried out by Central Bank downgrades forecasts for Argentina's economy.

PRESIDENT-ELECT IN MEXICO

Fernández, López Obrador talk up trade ties and regional cooperation

05-11-2019 11:28 Leaders of Argentina and Mexico say they see the world in a similar way, with president-elect saying the two are seeking to restore "the equilibrium and social equality lost in Latin America" in recent years.

IN MEXICO CITY

Alberto Fernández meets with Mexican President López Obrador

04-11-2019 11:31 Argentina's president-elect makes first visit overseas since winning election, visits Mexico's president to discuss bilateral relations, investment and the situation in Venezuela.

FOREIGN POLICY

Alberto Fernández: What can we can expect on foreign policy

04-11-2019 09:40 President-elect – who visits Mexico this week – is preparing his foreign policy approach. But will it echo that of Kirchnerismo, or forge a distinct new path?

CURRENCY CONTROLS

Central Bank tightens 'cepo,' sets US$50 limit on cash advances abroad

31-10-2019 22:10 The move comes three days after the Central Bank sharply tightened currency exchange controls to stem a surge in capital flight.

BLOOMBERG - OPINION

Could dollarisation be Argentina's salvation?

30-10-2019 14:50 To a growing number of respected economists, the only path to a fresh start for Argentina involves embracing the US dollar.

by Mac Margolis

ALBERTO PRESIDENTE

Fernández to shift stances on Latin America, US, Venezuela, Brazil, China

29-10-2019 13:28 Fernández has signalled that Argentina will return to its alignment with the left-wing governments of Latin America. That could see closer ties with Mexico and Venezuela, and greater tensions with Brazil, the region’s biggest economy.

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

Latin American leaders congratulate Fernández on victory – except Bolsonaro

28-10-2019 10:20 Fellow leftists regional leaders rally behind Alberto Fernandez, but Brazilian leader Jair Bolsonaro says he doesn't intend to congratulate Frente de Todos leader.

Bloomberg

Alberto Fernández picks Mexico for first trip abroad as president-elect

28-10-2019 09:37 Scheduled for next week, the trip marks a clear departure from the foreign policy approach of the last four years and a move towards aligning his administration with like-minded leftists in Latin America.

FOREIGN POLICY

Fernández keeps foreign policy cards close to his chest

26-10-2019 11:24 Frente de Todos frontrunner has given very little away about his views on foreign relations during campaigning, but look hard enough and hints are there. So how will his approach differ to Mauricio Macri’s strategy?

by Federico Poore

ELECTION 2019

Fernández tells Argentines he will protect their savings and dollar deposits

23-10-2019 13:53 Presidential frontrunner asks markets and Argentina to "be calm," promising not to raid personal savings should financial turbulence hit country post-election.

CENTRAL BANK

Sandleris asks for 'basic consensus' to ensure Argentina grows

16-10-2019 08:29 "If we manage to build basic consensus, our economy can leave behind instability and crisis, so that we can begin to grow steadily and begin to lower inflation," declares Central Bank chief.

BLOOMBERG

Alberto Fernández aiming for higher tax take from wealthy individuals

30-09-2019 07:00 “Companies pay taxes, not individual persons. They do not pay for their wealth. And that must be changed,” Fernández said. “So what we have to do is focus on those taxpayers and ask them to help."

ELECTION 2019

Alberto Fernández heads to Bolivia, Peru to meet leaders

19-09-2019 19:37 Frente de Todos frontrunner will meet with presidents Evo Morales and Martín Vizcarra for talks during two-day trip.

BLOOMBERG

Central Bank raises rate floor to 78% as prices soar

18-09-2019 21:27 The rate floor will lower to 68% for all of October, while Central Bank officials project that Argentina’s monetary base will grow at a monthly rate of 2.5% in September and October.

BLOOMBERG

With controls in place, Central Bank cuts 85% rate, buys dollars

18-09-2019 14:08 Institution's move to choke off dollars hands peso some breathing room, with Central Bank buying dollars for first time in seven months.

DIPLOMACY

Alberto Fernández renews contact with key foreign embassiess

17-09-2019 17:30 Frente de Todos presidential frontrunner and his team of advisers look to renew contact with key foreign embassies and diplomats, including the United States, the United Kingdom and members of the European Union.

by Aurelio Tomás

ECONOMIC POLICY

Argentina must drive demand to boost economy, says Alberto Fernández

09-09-2019 07:30 Frente de Todos leader says businesses who risk capital need their investments to pay off because that creates jobs. But those investments won’t happen if there is poverty, he explains in an interview.

ECONOMIC INDICATORS

New Central Bank survey predicts 55% inflation in 2019

04-09-2019 09:46 GDP anticipated to contract by 2.5% this year, survey of economists and consultancy firms reveals.

BLOOMBERG

Bond investors keen to hear from Alberto Fernández's economic advisors

27-08-2019 12:24 Money managers including BlackRock, Goldman Sachs and others have made contact with advisers to Alberto Fernández, with some pleasantly surprised by what they've heard.

CHANGE AT THE TREASURY

Peso stability a priority, declares new Finance Minister Hernán Lacunza

20-08-2019 13:46 "Guaranteeing the exchange rate is a first-order objective," says Lacunza, who also promises that Argentina would keep 2019 fiscal targets set in alignment with IMF.

GLOBAL ECONOMY

US Federal Reserve cuts interest rates for first time since 2008

31-07-2019 16:49 The US Federal Reserve cut the benchmark lending rate on Wednesday for the first time in more than a decade, moving to stimulate the economy after a year of sustained pressure from President Donald Trump.

AS I SEE IT

And still they keep coming

06-07-2019 10:46 It is not “racist” to feel it would be disastrous for one’s own country to become more like those immigrants want to leave behind.

by James Neilson

US MIDTERMS

A blue House ain’t strong enough to see off Trump’s foreign policy

10-11-2018 09:26 With the Democrats reflecting a diverse electorate, the Republican Party has instead reshaped itself into a Trumpian version of the traditionally conservative GOP.

by Carolina Barros

TECHNOLOGY AND THE MEDIA

Fake news and the online battle for the truth

01-09-2018 08:41 The rise of the Internet and social media has dramatically altered access to information across the globe. But it has also increased the proliferation of false information, with some experts fearing we have entered a new ‘posttruth’ age.

IMMIGRATION AND THE UNITED STATES

Deadline to reunite immigrant families rapidly approaching

07-07-2018 09:55 Donald Trump won the US presidential race with the most anti-immigration platform witnessed in the United States in decades.

EDITORIAL

Editorial: Empowerment over eviction

14-04-2018 10:47 Politics regarding slums were always controversial. What should the government do about them?