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The Latin America Brief

Issue #16 · Thursday, October 22, 2026 · 4-min read

Top stories

Lula Campaign Asks Electoral Court to Strip Flávio Bolsonaro's Ticket

Late Wednesday, Lula's coalition filed an electoral investigation action (AIJE) at the Superior Electoral Court (TSE) asking it to revoke the registration of Flávio Bolsonaro (PL) and running mate Alfredo Gaspar for alleged abuse of economic power and misuse of the media, and to declare Flávio ineligible for eight years. The filing argues that recommendation systems, generative-AI tools and ad review at Meta and X repeatedly favored Flávio; it concedes that reach comparisons are indications rather than proof and asks for the platforms' internal records and a technical audit. Interim requests include a R$1 million daily fine per platform for unequal treatment through Sunday. Poder360 said Meta and Flávio's campaign had not responded by publication. The runoff is Sunday, Oct. 25.

Sources: G1 · ES/PT  |  Poder360 · ES/PT  |  O Globo · ES/PT

New Quaest Poll: Flávio 45%, Lula 44%, Still a Technical Tie

Quaest's latest runoff poll, commissioned by O Globo and TV Globo (Oct. 17–20, 2,154 voters, ±2 points), puts Flávio Bolsonaro at 45% and Lula at 44%, versus 46%–44% a week earlier. Blank, null or not voting: 9%; undecided: 2%. Rejection eased for both: 52% say they would never vote for Flávio (from 54%) and 47% for Lula (from 53%). It is Quaest's first poll since the end of the 6x1 work schedule was enacted.

Sources: Exame · ES/PT  |  G1 · ES/PT  |  CNN Brasil

Spain's Foreign Ministry Condemns Milei's Remarks as “Indigno”

A day after Javier Milei called Pedro Sánchez an “impresentable dictador” in Madrid, Spain's Foreign Ministry issued an official statement expressing its “most energetic condemnation” of what it called insults and slanders against the prime minister, Spain and Spaniards, and condemning what it described as a call to violence. It said Spain “does not accept external interference” and called it “indigno” (unworthy) for a head of state of a sister nation to visit with the aim of fostering polarization.

Sources: Spain Foreign Ministry (primary) · ES/PT  |  El Mundo · ES/PT  |  Europa Press · ES/PT

Region roundup

ProPublica Publishes Terms of the US–Venezuela Oil Pact

ProPublica reviewed the 18-page agreement signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The US takes a 35% stake in Alejandro Betancourt's North American Blue Energy Partners (NABEP) through a Barbados-registered parent, a seven-member board governs for an initial 15-year term, and Betancourt stays CEO. According to EFE's summary, the US can buy 20% of output at $30 a barrel and has priority on the rest for 50 years; ProPublica says the text sets no explicit binding obligation for the $200 billion in taxes and royalties the White House announced. A NABEP spokesperson said neither Betancourt nor co-signer Orlando Alvarado has ever been charged with a crime.

Sources: ProPublica  |  Clarín (EFE) · ES/PT

Peso Edges to ARS 1,526 as BCRA Buying Slows

The wholesale dollar rose for a fourth straight session, closing at ARS 1,526, up one peso. The central bank bought US$46 million, less than half of Tuesday's US$103 million, extending its buying streak to 17 sessions; gross reserves rose US$24 million to US$50,225 million, above US$50 billion for a fifth straight session. Ámbito puts October purchases at US$1,149 million.

Sources: Ámbito · ES/PT  |  BAE Negocios · ES/PT

Records Challenge: Lula Camp Accepts Flávio's Conditions, Sets Thursday Deadline

Flávio Bolsonaro filed a TSE petition Wednesday authorizing release of his bank, tax and phone records for the past 20 years, on condition that Lula release records of aides, family companies and other government data. Lula's campaign coordinator, Senator Camilo Santana, said Lula “does not oppose” any of the conditions provided Flávio does the same, and that the campaign will file its response at the TSE at 11 a.m. Thursday, the same deadline it set for Flávio. Exame reports the Lula camp also wants records for Alcazar Holdings, a Madeira-based company controlled by Flávio's friend, lawyer Willer Tomaz.

Sources: G1 · ES/PT  |  Agência Brasil · ES/PT  |  Estadão · ES/PT  |  Exame · ES/PT

Colombia Will Decree Its COP 634.9 Trillion Budget After Congress Misstep

After an article went unreconciled between the House and Senate, Vice President José Manuel Restrepo said the government will issue the 2027 budget by decree under Article 59 of the Organic Budget Statute, using the text approved in first debate. The total stays at COP 634.9 trillion, but second-debate changes are lost, including a COP 3 trillion addition for health and a cut of almost COP 11 trillion in debt service, La República reports. Restrepo sent a message of “tranquility” to investors and bondholders.

Sources: La República · ES/PT  |  Semana · ES/PT  |  El Espectador · ES/PT

Peru's Senate Completes the Central Bank Board

The Senate elected Oswaldo Molina (40 votes in favor), José Ricardo Stok (33) and Juan José Marthans (36) as the three congressional directors of the BCRP for 2026–2031, completing the seven-member board led by Julio Velarde, who was ratified for a fifth term. Molina and Stok were proposed by Fuerza Popular and Marthans, a former SBS superintendent, by Renovación Popular; Marthans was picked despite ranking fifth in the committee's merit scoring.

Sources: RPP · ES/PT  |  La República (PE) · ES/PT

Mexico's Mining Output Falls 10.5% Year on Year

INEGI says seasonally adjusted mining and metallurgical output fell 0.1% month on month and 10.5% year on year in August, the sixth straight annual decline. In original figures, zinc fell 27.4%, lead 25%, gold 21.7% and silver 12.9%, while iron pellets rose 17.4% and copper 2.3%.

Sources: INEGI (primary) · ES/PT  |  El Horizonte · ES/PT  |  Mundo Ejecutivo · ES/PT

Cuba Accuses US of Pressuring Countries Ahead of UN Embargo Vote

Foreign Minister Bruno Rodríguez said the US has threatened countries with tariffs, visa denials, suspended cooperation and support for opposition parties to change their votes on the annual UN General Assembly resolution against the embargo, expected Oct. 27 or 28. He said Secretary of State Marco Rubio and UN Ambassador Mike Waltz are leading the effort. On Monday, Waltz acknowledged asking European countries to reconsider their support, citing Ukrainian allegations about Cubans fighting for Russia.

Sources: Al Jazeera / Reuters  |  Prensa Latina (Cuban state media) · ES/PT

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