Chilean president Sebastian Piñera on Monday named the head of a government agency that promotes gender equality to be the new education minister. Carolina Schmidt replaces Harald Beyer, who was impeached by Congress last week.
By R. Viswanathan (*) - Horacio Cartes of the Colorado party won the presidential elections held last Sunday in Paraguay. The Colorados had ruled the country continuously for 61 years in a one-party dictatorship until 2008 when Fernando Lugo, the leftist “Bishop of the Poor” defeated the Colorado candidate and made history.
In the midst of global economic uncertainty, Latin America has maintained steady levels of economic growth and financial resilience over the past decade. The region has a forecast of almost 4% economic growth in 2013, and it is this encouraging prospect that is the focus of the 2013 World Economic Forum on Latin America in Lima, Peru, which opened on Tuesday 23 until April 25.
England will play three matches on their tour to Argentina and Uruguay this coming June, announced the Rugby Union in England. Stuart Lancaster’s side will face a CONSUR XV representing the South American nations in Montevideo, Uruguay, on Sunday, June 2 (3.30pm local time, 7.30pm BST).
United States, Peru and Chile among others extended their congratulations to president-elect Horacio Cartes and to the Paraguayan people for the ‘extraordinary’ Election Day last Sunday and their significant turnout in such special circumstances.
President-elect Horacio Cartes said that even when some aspects of Mercosur can be improved it “would be utterly nonsense” to abandon the block since it generates many jobs in the country, attracts investment and is an opportunity to open markets.
Brazil conditions the immediate return of Paraguay to Mercosur to the approval, by the new congress, of Venezuela’s full incorporation to the trade block, according to the influential Folha de Sao Paulo quoting foreign ministry reliable sources.
Foreign Minister Elias Jaua said on Monday that Venezuela will resort to “trade, energy, economic and political” measures if the United States applies sanctions or keeps meddling in the internal affairs of the country.
Colombia’s President Juan Manuel Santos has signalled he may run for re-election in 2014, but only if he can serve for just two more years, half the usual term, and change the rules for future heads of state.
In his victory speech Paraguay president-elect Horacio Cartes said he expects to win the confidence of all the Paraguayan population and called on the opposition to work for the good of the nation. He also had a direct reference to the neighbouring giant saying he wanted to work with Brazil, a ‘brother-country’.