News from South America
MercoPress South Atlantic News Agency
- Argentina’s CGT calls 24-hour general strike on the day lower house debates Milei’s labor reformon February 16, 2026
Argentina’s main labor umbrella, the General Confederation of Labor (CGT), confirmed on Monday it will stage a 24-hour nationwide strike on the day the Chamber of Deputies debates President Javier Milei’s labor reform, hardening its stance as the bill enters the final stage of the legislative process after clearing the Senate.
- Brazilian opposition announces legal action against Lula over Rio Carnival tributeon February 16, 2026
Brazil’s opposition said it will file complaints with the country’s electoral courts against President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, arguing that a Rio Carnival tribute staged by samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói amounted to illegal early campaigning funded, at least in part, with public money.
- Peru set to vote on whether to oust interim President José Jerí amid scandals weeks before electionson February 16, 2026
Peru’s Congress will debate and vote on Tuesday on a set of censure motions targeting interim President José Jerí, a move that could trigger yet another change at the top of the state in a country that has cycled through multiple presidents since 2016, just weeks before the April 12 general election.
- Opus Dei briefs the Pope on Argentina “controversies” amid labor exploitation allegationson February 16, 2026
Pope Leo XIV on Monday met with Opus Dei Prelate Fernando Ocáriz, as the organization’s leadership presented its “institutional perspective” on “certain controversies” in Argentina, against the backdrop of ongoing allegations involving domestic servitude and human trafficking.
- Uruguay's Conexión Ganadera case: founder’s daughter moved $15.9m, BCU sayson February 16, 2026
Uruguay’s Conexión Ganadera investigation — a criminal case stemming from the collapse of a livestock-linked investment operation that led to fraud charges and, in some instances, money-laundering allegations — has moved forward after the Central Bank of Uruguay (BCU) sent prosecutors a report detailing bank transfers made by Marcela Carrasco, the […]
- Milei to travel to the first Board of Peace summit and to meet with Trumpon February 16, 2026
Argentine President Javier Milei will travel to the United States this week to attend the inaugural summit of President Donald Trump’s “Board of Peace” and hold another meeting with Trump in Washington.
- Argentina–Uruguay river commission faces tensions over funding and infrastructure disputeson February 16, 2026
A string of disagreements between Uruguay’s and Argentina’s delegations at the Administrative Commission of the Uruguay River (CARU) has heightened internal friction at the binational body in recent weeks, amid clashes involving infrastructure proposals, absences from official events and public allegations over the handling of funds and allowances.
- Lula and other Brazilian presidents at the Sambadrome: tributes, satire and scandalson February 16, 2026
The tribute paid on Sunday by samba school Acadêmicos de Niterói to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva — a parade that traced his life story and political rise — has revived debate over the long-standing relationship between Rio’s carnival and political power. Lula is not the first Brazilian president to be featured on the Sambadrome, but he is […]
- Petro to issue new temporary minimum wage decree after court suspensionon February 16, 2026
Colombian President Gustavo Petro said he will issue “in the coming days” a temporary decree on the 2026 minimum wage after the Council of State ordered a provisional suspension of the government’s late-December decree setting the increase.
- Regional News Monitoring Gains Urgency as Venezuela Crisis and US Migration Policy Reshape Latin Americaon February 16, 2026
Latin America is facing renewed geopolitical and humanitarian pressure as developments in Venezuela and evolving migration policies in the United States reshape regional dynamics. Governments across the hemisphere are recalibrating responses as migration flows, border enforcement measures, and political rhetoric shift almost in real time.










