Latin America Daily Briefing 7/4/24
Mexico
Mexico recorded 330 attacks against political figures during the 3-month electoral season this year, reports El País, noting that it was “the most violent in recent years in the country.”
The development of infrastructure in anticipation of Mexico co-hosting the 2026 World Cup may impact local biodiversity, reports Mongabay, highlighting a lack of local consultation in Mexico City, impacts on the local puma population in Guadalajara, and threats to fauna and flora conservation in Monterrey.
“Although there have been concerns about intolerance to criticism, centralization of power, and control of independent institutions during President Andrés Manuel López Obrador's time in office (2018–2024), Mexico's democratic foundations have remained solid,” according to Viridiana Ríos at Journal of Democracy.
Venezuela
Following Maduro’s statement that his administration would partake in negotiations with the US, Venezuela’s opposition announced that it welcomed the move, says AP News.
On July 1, Colombian police arrested Larry Álvarez Nuñez, alias “Larry Changa,” the co-founder and leader of the Tren de Aragua transnational criminal group. According to InSight Crime, his arrest “is the most significant blow the gang has been dealt so far,” creating a leadership vacuum the group has not yet had to encounter.
Argentina
Milei achieved an important legislative victory with the passage of the Ley Bases bills last week, though his main challenge now will be to prove that he is able to govern and continue to negotiate with Congress, where his ruling La Libertad Avanza (LLA) party has very few seats, assesses Buenos Aires Times.
Economy Minister Luis Caputo revealed part of the “next steps” for Argentina’s economic outlook, including a return to international markets by 2025, according to Latin Finance.
The Centenario lithium plant in the Salta province will begin production in November, said French mining company Eramet. According to Reuters, it will be one of the first plants to use the process of direct lithium extraction (DLE), to reduce the amount of water necessary for lithium production.
Nicaragua
The Green Climate Fund (GCF), a UN initiative, terminated a $64 million forest conservation project in Nicaragua, citing concerns over environmental and social safeguards, reports Climate Change News. It is the first time the GCF has pulled out of a project since its creation in 2010.
Bolivia
YPFB, the Bolivian state energy firm, has turned to Russia for assistance as it seeks to reverse a years-long trend of declining oil and gas production, according to Reuters. YPFB President Armin Dorgathen announced the firm was looking for additional investors and partners.
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights denounced the military coup attempted last week in Bolivia. (press release; see LADB 6/28/24)
Former President Evo Morales claimed that current President - and internal MAS party rival - Luis Arce staged a “self coup” last week in an effort to boost his own popularity, reports AP. Morales and Arce, once political allies, have increasingly disagreed over political issues, as both are vying to be the MAS candidate ahead of Bolivia’s presidential elections in 2015. No evidence has yet to be presented proving the claim, which has been adopted by some opposition forces.
Regional
Ramiro Tapia, Bolivia’s Ambassador to Argentina, was recalled following allegations from the Argentine government that Bolivian President Luis Arce had staged last week’s attempted coup to gain electoral momentum, says MercoPress.
“Hurricane Beryl, which has made history as the earliest category five Atlantic hurricane on record, has damaged infrastructure and caused widespread power outages… Climate adaptation is the answer to these extreme weather events, but it requires significant investment that governments in the Caribbean cannot afford. International support, including private finance, is needed,” writes Wazim Mowla for Atlantic Council. (see yesterday’s LADB on the hurricane)
“As ongoing crackdowns in Honduras and Ecuador suggest, efforts to emulate the Bukele model are likely to fail—and come at a high cost for democracy, security, and human rights,” write Manuel Meléndez-Sánchez and Alberto Vergara at Journal of Democracy, explaining the growth of El Salvador’s mano dura security model.
Brazil
The Lula administration is bringing back the Special Commission on the Dead and Disappeared, in relation to the abuses of the military dictatorship, after the Bolsonaro administration had dissolved the commission in late 2022. (Folha)
Colombia
“President Gustavo Petro reshuffled Colombia’s cabinet as the leftist leader approaches the midpoint of his four-year term with his flagship economic reforms under threat in congress and the courts. The leftist leader has replaced his interior, agriculture, transport, and justice ministers in the past few days,” says Bloomberg.