20-12-19 Latin American Weekly Report

In its first week in office Argentina’s new Peronist government, led by President Alberto Fernández, has begun making its opening moves. The economy, the justice system, and foreign relations have all figured prominently.

One of the big questions facing the new administration is whether it can steer the country out of the economic mess it has been in for most of the last
two years. Ultimately, its political fate depends on achieving that economic
turn-around, ideally in time for the mid-term congressional elections due
in late 2021. First indications point to a combination of big emergency
tax hikes and increased social welfare measures designed to cushion the
impact of austerity. Getting some kind of balance between the two may
be difficult.