The Latin American Report # 701

Levels of sociopolitical conflict have risen again in Argentina in recent days, amidst controversies as varied as the one revolving around the official methodology for calculating inflation. This Wednesday in particular, a massive protest stands out in front of the National Congress headquarters against the aggressive labor reform being debated by the legislature, where Milei gained significant muscle after the national legislative elections in October of last year. According to the Ministry of National Security, four agents were injured, while two protesters were detained. In principle, as you can see, the assessment is quite propagandistic. "We are not going to allow the usual violent individuals to sow chaos and lack of control," declared the Minister of National Security, primarily responsible for the deployment of hundreds of officers from all security forces in downtown Buenos Aires, who according to EFE used tear gas, rubber bullets, and water cannons to contain—and repress—the protesters, who indeed resorted to violence by throwing stones and Molotov cocktails.

The country's largest labor federation is the main mobilizing force behind the protests, joined by other social organizations generally on the left of the political spectrum. The reform project, which the head of the Pink House presents as a key component of his radical shock program, changes the calculation basis for severance pay, allows for splitting vacation periods into non-continuous segments of at least seven days and on a rotating basis—while workers would be entitled to a vacation period during summer once in three years—, expands the list of essential socioeconomic sectors in which—during strikes—services must be maintained at 75% levels—potentially now including telecommunications, aeronautics, among others—, reduces the power of labor unions, among other proposals, most of them controversial.

A teacher union activist told EFE that, if approved, the reform "will imply complete slavery in terms of working conditions." "It´s not modernization, it´s austerity for the workers," said the General Confederation of Labour cited by AP.

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A discussion on methodology 👇

Mexico-related

This odd development resonated quite a bit during the morning and early afternoon today.

Crime

Mexico is the country with the most entries in the global ranking of the 50 most violent cities, according to a report by the Citizen Council for Public Security and Criminal Justice cited by EFE. However, the Haitian capital Port-au-Prince and the Ecuadorian coastal city of Babahoyo lead the infamous ranking. Among the top ten are the Mexican cities of Culiacán and Ciudad Obregón, but Ecuador is the one with the most there, with six. Colombia is the other country with the most cities included in the ranking, as the American continent as a whole accounts for close to 90% of it.

Venezuela

The good rapport between the White House and the Miraflores Palace continues following the start today of a three-day visit by the Secretary of Energy to Venezuela. Acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who met with him in the afternoon, said they aim for the bilateral energy association "to become the engine of the relationship [...] and for that energy agenda to be productive, effective, beneficial for both countries, and complementary."

Colombia

With collaboration from the DEA, Colombian security forces dismantled a facility that produced two tons of cocaine weekly in the municipality of Guadalupe in the northwestern department of Antioquia, seizing indeed more than 2.7 tons of cocaine hydrochloride, production inputs, equipment, and machinery, according to EFE. It is stated that the complex belonged to an independent transnational criminal organization linked to a structure of the FARC dissidents. The drug was produced for the US market.

Via X

The country is experiencing a very concerning context with devastating floods caused by heavy rains 👇

The Colombia´s Bukele is the top contender for the country´s main office 👇