Inter American Watch
Monday December 20th, 2021
The Americas
Gabriel Boric, a former student activist, is elected Chile’s youngest president
Chileans on Sunday elected Gabriel Boric, as their next president, entrusting the young leftist lawmaker with helping to shape the future of a nation that has been roiled by protests and is now drafting a new Constitution. At 35, Mr. Boric will be the nation’s youngest leader and by far its most liberal since President Salvador Allende.
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/19/world/americas/chile-president-election.html
Reactions:
Leftists in Latin America receives Gabriel Boric euphoric
The victory of leftist candidate Gabriel Boric in Chile has unleashed euphoria among left-wing leaders in Latin America. Progressivism tries to face a new decade with renewed optimism. “Congratulations on the win, my dear friend @gabrielboric! The victory you have achieved is that of the Chilean people and the Latin American peoples who want to live with freedom, peace, justice and dignity share it! Let us continue fighting for the unity of our nations ”, Peru’s Pedro Castillo wrote on Twitter.
Market Research Telecast: https://marketresearchtelecast.com/the-left-of-latin-america-receives-gabriel-boric-euphoric-international/230299/
The challenges for Boric: lack of administrative experience, no control of Congress
Some Chileans worry about whether Boric will be up to the demands of administering an entire country under complex conditions, given not only his youth, but also his lack of administrative experience in a traditional job, his lack of experience with the responsabilities of a family and children, and his failure to complete his law degree.
Global Americans: https://theglobalamericans.org/2021/12/challenges-facing-chiles-next-government-part-2/
Anti-Zionist Gabriel Boric’s presidential win leaves Chile’s Jews worried
The election results are viewed negatively by Chile’s Jewish community due to Boric’s outspoken anti-Zionist stance. Gabriel Boric called Israel a “murderous state” in a meeting with Chile’s Jewish community during his campaign.
Jerusalem Post: https://www.jpost.com/breaking-news/kast-concedes-to-boric-in-chile-presidential-elections-689209
Peru
Peruvian president under investigation for corruption
Peru’s President Pedro Castillo is once again under the spotlight after the Attorney General said his Office was already investigating press allegations that businesswoman Karelim López had paid the head of state offered to help the Puente Tarata III consortium win the tender for a work.
Mercopress: https://en.mercopress.com/2021/12/18/peru-s-president-under-investigation-for-corruption
Extensive corruption network within the Peruvian National Police uncovered
A corruption network has become entrenched in the upper echelons of the Peruvian National Police (PNP), according to an investigation by prosecutor Reynaldo Abia, based on testimonies of protected witnesses about bribery payments within the police institution.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/peru/2021/12/20/oficiales-de-la-pnp-habrian-cobrado-millonarias-coimas-por-la-compra-de-materiales-de-proteccion-contra-la-covid-19/
Peruvian opposition rejects political meddling of regional radical leftist actors in Peru
Various Peruvian political actors such as retired diplomats, former members of the Military High Command and even current Congressmen of the Republic are in a state of alert, before some radical left movements that seek to gain political ground and social support in Peru.
Diario de las Américas, in Spanish: https://www.diariolasamericas.com/america-latina/rechazan-intromision-politica-la-izquierda-radical-peru-n4239239
Peru sends team to negotiate pass at halted key copper mine
Peru’s government sent a mediation team to one of the biggest copper mines in the country in an effort to restart some basic operations after the local community forced a halt to operations in a blow to the area’s industry and global metal supplies.
Bloomberg: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2021-12-18/peru-sends-team-to-negotiate-pass-at-halted-key-copper-mine?utm_source=google&utm_medium=bd&cmpId=google
Peru’s Congress rejects plan to hike taxes on mining sector; Castillo’s government to insist
Peruvian Finance Minister Pedro Francke said on Friday that the government would insist on a tax reform that includes higher taxes for the mining sector, after Congress rejected much of the initial proposal earlier in the day. “We will present the bills so they are discussed in the next legislature,” Francke wrote on Twitter.
Mining.com: https://www.mining.com/web/perus-congress-rejects-plan-to-hike-taxes-on-mining-sector/
Argentina
In Argentina, getting rid of corruption is not an easy task
When Néstor Kirchner and his wife chose to take advantage of the opportunities that presented themselves to transform the political power that the electorate had given them into many millions of dollars, they injected into the country a poison that would weaken it over time to such an extent that it would be much more difficult to face the challenges that awaited him.
Noticias, in Spanish: https://noticias.perfil.com/noticias/opinion/liberarse-de-la-corrupcion-no-es-nada-facil.phtml
Analysis: In Argentina, some see a détente among leaders
Argentine President Alberto Fernández declared “I am the one who decides.” Meanwhile, his powerful vice president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner wrote in an open letter that she “is not the one holding the pen” regarding the potential of a much-heralded upcoming deal with the International Monetary Fund. Is there a new détente between the Peronist partners in power – or is this just another temporary truce?
Americas Quarterly: https://americasquarterly.org/article/in-argentina-some-see-a-detente-among-leaders/
Ecuador
Internal conflicts and accusations links to drug trafficking weaken image of Ecuador’s National Police
Even though 2021 has been the year with the highest drug seizures in Ecuador, it has not slowed down neither deaths in prisons, nor complaints of police ties with drug trafficking.
El Universo, in Spanish: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/politica/policia-nacional-crisis-conflictos-internos-acusaciones-vinculaciones-narcotrafico-nota/
Ecuador’s Attorney General investigates 31 public officers linked to corruption at Sucre System during former Rafael Correa administration
The State Attorney General’s Office confirmed that a preliminary investigation (IP) is currently open on the case of the Unitary Regional Compensation System (Sucre). This investigation dates back to 2016, when the Comptroller General’s Office had delivered a Criminal Responsibility Report (IRP) to that entity, which emerges from a special examination carried out by that agency on exports through the Sucre System, mostly to Venezuela, registered between 2011 and 2013.
El Universo, in Spanish: https://www.eluniverso.com/noticias/economia/fiscalia-tiene-abierta-una-investigacion-previa-por-caso-sistema-sucre-nota/
Ecuador requests Colombian Attorney General Office to investigate businessman Alex Saab
The Colombian Attorney General’s Office would once again open an investigation against Álex Saab, the alleged front man of Nicolás Maduro, after the decision made by the Ecuadorian Congress in which it determined that the Colombian businessman had a key role in a corrupt scheme between Ecuador and Venezuela.
Infobae, in Spanish: https://www.infobae.com/america/colombia/2021/12/16/alex-saab-sera-investigado-por-la-fiscalia-de-colombia-por-solicitud-de-ecuador/
Bolivia
Chinese, Russian and Americans in a race to control Bolivia’s lithium reserves
Chinese and Russian industrial giants seek to tap mineral deposits vital to electric cars. A Texas entrepreneur has his own strategy: the long game.
The New York Times: https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/16/business/energy-environment/bolivia-lithium-electric-cars.html
Colombia
‘Ivan Márquez’ and ‘Gentil Duarte’: new targets for bounty hunters
The streak of attacks on the camps of the dissidents of the extinct Farc in Venezuelan territory – which began on May 17 with the death of ‘Jesus Santrich’ and continued with those of ‘Romaña’ and the ‘Paisa’, at the start of December – it will not slow down. This is indicated by an intelligence report, to which EL TIEMPO had access, which indicates that ‘Iván Márquez’, head of the ‘Second Marquetalia’, completes a week hidden in the state of Amazonas. The former FARC negotiator in Havana is deciding whether to jump to Colombia (through Vichada or Guainía) or if he finally leaves for Nicaragua, after they have blocked his trip to Cuba.
El Tiempo/The Goa Spotlight: https://thegoaspotlight.com/2021/12/19/ivan-marquez-and-gentil-duarte-new-targets-for-bounty-hunters-investigative-unit/
