Carlos Menem, who died at the age of 90 on February 14, 2021, was president of Argentina from 1989 to 1999. Having been in frail health for some time, he died after a short hospitalization for a urinary tract infection. Despite his Peronista origins, he became known for market economic policies and the privatization of

Ecuadorian presidential candidate Andrés Arauz, protegé of former President Rafael Correa, took first place in the election on February 7, 2021, and secured a place in the runoff election on April 11, 2021. The 36-year-old economist ran on promises to make U.S. $1 billion in direct cash payments to families and to disavow the conditions

In late January and early February 2021, Mexico continued to investigate the 19 charred bodies found in vehicles on a rural road in the northern state of Tamaulipas, in an area known as the “frontera chica,” near the U.S./Mexico border just south of Texas. The bodies were discovered on January 22, 2021. Among the few

On January 23 and 24 of 2021, Brazilians from across the political spectrum took to the streets calling for the impeachment of President Jair Bolsonaro. His plunging approval numbers reflect widespread anger and frustration over his government’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, which has raged through the country, claiming more than 216,000 lives after 8.9

On January 17, 2021, Guatemalan security forces violently halted a migrant caravan of thousands of Hondurans attempting to reach Mexico en route to the United States. Journalists watched as police and members of the armed forces used batons and tear gas against the men, women, and children as they tried to march beyond the Guatemala-Honduras

Latin Americans reacted to the January 6, 2021, protest-turned-attack on the Congress of the United States with the same sense of horror and shock that most U.S. citizens felt. They acknowledged that after ranting for two months that the election had been stolen from him, President Trump incited a crowd of thousands of his supporters

On January 5, 2021, Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro proclaimed that Brazil is “bankrupt,” and that there is nothing he can do about it. He made other claims as well, about the pandemic, the media, and reasons for the high rate of unemployment, all of which were met with broad skepticism and scorn. As the pandemic

On December 6, 2020, Venezuela held elections to decide who would control its unicameral legislature, the Asamblea Nacional, or AN. Since the last legislative election, the opposition has controlled the chamber, presided over by Juan Guaidó, who was also recognized by many countries around the world as the Provisional or Interim President of Venezuela after

On November 25, 2020, after days of protest, a group of demonstrators broke into Guatemala’s Congress building and set several rooms on fire. In other parts of the capital, thousands marched peacefully while making their demands, but were nonetheless attacked by police. This led to more demonstrations. The protests were ignited by a national budget

On November 9, 2020, Peruvian lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to remove President Martín Vizcarra from office. They cited his handling of the coronavirus pandemic, as well as alleged, but unproven, corruption allegations. While Vizcarra said he would not fight the dismissal, the action by legislators proved to be a risky move in a country where the president