Southern Cone in May 2026: the most important developments in politics
In May 2026 politics in the Southern Cone was dominated by Argentina, where President Javier Milei faced internal conflicts and a growing number of alienated allies within his administration. Vice President Victoria Villarruel challenged Manuel Adorni over his delayed asset declaration. A court requested information from the office of Milei's sister, Karina Milei, over allegations of irregular hiring and a garden tender. A former advisor was charged over corporate card spending, and Milei defended Jose Luis Espert, who remains under a money laundering investigation with frozen assets. Economist Domingo Cavallo and journalist Jaime Bayly criticised the president, and Mauricio Macri compared him to a prophet. On 26 May Milei said he does not compete with Macri, the former president, and that he believes he can win reelection if his government performs well.
The government also pursued its legislative agenda. Milei proposed a super investment incentive law, is pushing a lobbying law modelled on the US system and wants to repeal the Front Labeling Law. His anti-gambling bill avoids the core of the gambling business. The ruling party pushed to appoint judges aligned with the president, while a prosecutor considered charges against former Foreign Minister Santiago Cafiero. Separately, more than two million people in Buenos Aires province lost food aid.
Elsewhere in the region, China urged Paraguay to end its diplomatic ties with Taiwan, reiterating its One-China policy, and Paraguayan President Santiago Pena condemned Beijing's efforts to isolate Taiwan. Chile said it will return its ambassador to Israel in the coming weeks. Mexico and Uruguay sent humanitarian aid to Cuba. Brazil's President Lula sent his defence minister to meet Uruguay's Presti as Milei aligns militarily with the United States. Pope Leo is scheduled to visit Uruguay in November.
by WorldBrief & Maksim Micheliov | AI-generated summary
Click a day in the chart above for that day's brief.