
Chilean President Gabriel Boric Font Friday pardoned 12 prisoners who had been arrested during the 2019 social protests and a former guerrilla who fought against then-dictator Augusto Pinochet Ugarte. In keeping his campaign promise, Boric drew heavy criticism from the opposition.

Argentine President Alberto Fernández is to have a new chief advisor following Julián Leunda's resignation on Dec. 6, it was reported Friday in Buenos Aires.

Peru's Supreme Court Thursday upheld a ruling ordering former President Pedro Castillo Terrones held under pre-trial detention for 18 months after he was arrested following his decision to dissolve Congress and rule by decree, which led to his impeachment.

Brazilian authorities have lifted the restrictions banning Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and other high-ranking officials since 2019 from entering the country so that they can attend Sunday's inauguration of President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, it was published Friday in the Diário Oficial da União (Official Gazette).

Presidential summit meetings of the Mercosur alliance were usually sedate comfortable affairs until Uruguay decided to “open up to the world” under its pro-business President Luis Lacalle Pou.

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro decreed three days of national mourning following the death of football legend Edson Arantes do Nascimento -Pelé- Thursday at the age of 82, while preparations are underway for his burial next Tuesday, one day after President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva is sworn in.
![The Astesiano case, with cumulative and persistent information over time, and the passport granted to [known drug trafficker Sebastián] Marset... would account for the drop](/data/cache/noticias/92194/260x165/kuki.jpeg)
The approval ratings of Uruguayan President Luis Lacalle Pou fell ten percentage points in two months, hitting an all-time low of 39% since he took office, according to a report from pollsters Equipos Consultores released Thursday.

The United States-sponsored experiment with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaido is coming to an end. Lawmakers who supported his interim government are close to officially dissolve it with a vote on the move now postponed until the new year.

Marina Silva, an active environmentalist, has been appointed Brazil's next environment minister by president elect Lula da Silva. Ms Silva held a similar post in Lula's first government in 2003, but following strong differences stepped down and formed her own political party.

At least eight raids were carried out Thursday and four followers of outgoing President Jair Bolsonaro were arrested for their alleged involvement in a plot to prevent President-elect Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva from taking office this coming Sunday.