Politics

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 20:36 UTC

  The man who steered Greece into the Euro zone is back on the helm

  

  The Greek government has appointed a new finance minister after its first choice resigned due to ill health less than a week after being appointed. Economist Yannis Stournaras has now been appointed, the government said.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 20:24 UTC

  Bolivian police return to work with a first main job: contain an indigenous march

  

  Bolivia's police ended a violent mutiny and went back to work on Wednesday after reaching an accord with government ministers and the police leadership on pay and disciplinary rules, satisfying lower-ranking officers who had rejected a previous deal.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 18:43 UTC

  “A parliamentary system would not work in Argentina”, says chief Justice

  

  The head of Argentina’s Supreme Court Ricardo Lorenzetti played down the possibility of a parliamentary system in the country because it would represent an “upturn of 180 degrees”, besides there is no clear initiative to reform the constitution.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 17:30 UTC

  Queen Elizabeth shakes hands with former IRA commander McGuinness

  

  Britain's Queen Elizabeth shook the hand of former Irish Republican Army (IRA) commander Martin McGuinness for the first time on Wednesday, drawing a line under a conflict that cost the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians, including that of her cousin.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 17:19 UTC

  Uruguay’s fiscal performance exposed to “political limitations”, says S&P report

  

  Risk rating agency Standard & Poor’s praised Uruguay’s fiscal moderation in the last eight years since the budget’s fiscal deficit has been below 2% of GDP but criticized the “political limitations” which impede the achievement of a better performance.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 17:15 UTC

  Paraguay accuses Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay of a new “Triple Alliance”

  

  The new Paraguayan government claimed before the Organization of American States, OAS, that Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay are again involved in a “Triple Alliance” to have the country ousted from the inter-American organization as is happening with Mercosur and Unasur.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 08:48 UTC

  Venezuela on the campaign trail: “President Chavez, only second to God”

  

  Political ads exalting Venezuela's populist President Hugo Chávez as second only to God have offended opponents and added further controversy to an already spicy presidential election campaign.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 08:32 UTC

  Mexico preparing WTO case against Argentina over suspension of auto trade accord

  

  Mexico is prepared to take legal actions against Argentina after the government of President Cristina Fernandez announced its decision “to suspend” an automobile trade agreement.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 08:25 UTC

  Argentina reiterates it will honour bonds maturing in August and December

  

  Argentina will pay back 5.716 billion dollars in bonds maturing next August and December, several of them tied to GDP evolution, confirmed president Cristina Fernandez.

• Wednesday, June 27th 2012 - 08:20 UTC

  Paraguay “back to business as usual” but with a shadow “legitimate” government

  

  Ousted Paraguayan president Fernando Lugo announced on Tuesday that he will not be attending the coming Mercosur summit scheduled to take place this Thursday and Friday in Mendoza.