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Author Archives: LatAmLowdown
Sporting Fever
The 2016 Olympics opened in Rio de Janeiro on Friday, with a ceremony celebrating Brazil’s diversity, its – often controversial – history and, looking ahead, its commitment to an environmentally responsible future. And for a games that had already weathered … Continue reading
Posted in Brazil, Peru, Sport
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Mayors in the crosshairs – the dangerous world of Mexican local government
According to data released earlier this week by Mexico’s National Institute for Statistics and Geography (INEGI), there were 20,525 registered homicides in the country in the last year. At a per capita rate of 17 per 100,000, Mexico weighs in … Continue reading
Posted in Mexico, Politics, Security
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Puerto Not-So-Rico
This Friday, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico had been due to make $2 billion of debt repayments, the first step on the road to tackling the burden of the $70 billion debt load currently encumbering the island territory. But things … Continue reading
Posted in Money, Politics, Puerto Rico
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A Farewell to Arms: Peace in Colombia
Last month, we reported in detail on the long and arduous peace process currently being navigated by Colombia, as the country seeks to end 52 years of civil war between the government and leftist FARC guerrillas. Deadlines had been missed … Continue reading
Posted in Colombia, FARC, Politics
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The Curious Incident of the Former Public Works Minister in the Night-Time
When concerned neighbours in the Buenos Aires suburb of General Rodríguez spotted a shadowy figure throwing bags – followed by himself – over the wall of the Convent of Our Lady of Fátima at 4am on a Tuesday morning, they … Continue reading
Posted in Argentina, Corruption, Politics
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Riots, Scandals and Algal Blooms: A difficult 2016 so far for Chile.
For a country that, since its return to democracy in 1990, has been comparatively used to stability, the first half of 2016 has been a rocky one for Chile. An upsurge of popular discontent with the pace of promised reforms … Continue reading
Posted in Chile, Politics
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The Weight of Political Baggage: Elections in Peru
Yesterday marked the final day of campaigning ahead of Sunday’s presidential second round run-off in Peru. The contest pits the Popular Force (FP) candidate Keiko Fujimori – daughter of disgraced former president Alberto Fujimori – against Pedro Pablo Kuczynski and … Continue reading
Posted in Elections, Peru, Politics
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Rebels without a cause: the FARC’s demise & Colombia’s slow-moving peace process
In the Cuban capital, Havana, we are witnessing the death throes of a conflict that has spanned over half a century. It is symbolically appropriate that the Castro regime, a government that so often nourished and supported the Marxist insurrection in Colombia, play … Continue reading
Posted in Colombia, FARC, Politics
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Venezuela: a failing state and a dying breed
When the stability of a government is directly proportional to the loyalty of the military, it is reasonable to assume that something has gone wrong. This is the situation in which crisis-gripped Venezuela finds itself, with the Bolivarian Armed Forces … Continue reading
Posted in Politics, Venezuela
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Adeus Dilma: Brazil has a new acting-president.
Following months of political hokey-cokey in Brazil, a decision may have finally been reached. After weeks that saw a congressional vote to impeach President Dilma Rousseff annulled by the interim speaker – before being rapidly reinstated – Wednesday’s marathon session … Continue reading
Posted in Brazil, Politics
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