Latin America: Bolivia Strikes, Venezuela Court Expansion, and Colombia Institutional Clash
On May 13, 2026, Latin America faced significant political and economic turbulence. In Bolivia, the Central Obrera Boliviana strike entered its second week, resulting in 67 simultaneous road blockades nationwide. President Rodrigo Paz Pereira called for dialogue as annual inflation hit 14 percent, the worst in four decades, prompting emergency food airlifts to La Paz. Meanwhile, Venezuela’s National Assembly unanimously voted to expand the Supreme Tribunal of Justice from 20 to 32 magistrates, marking a major institutional shift under acting president Delcy Rodríguez. In Colombia, tensions escalated between President Gustavo Petro and the Council of State after the latter suspended a pension decree, leading Petro to declare an 'institutional blockade.' In Brazil, President Lula launched an 11 billion BRL program against organized crime and eliminated import taxes on purchases under $50, while Argentina awaited key inflation data. These events highlight deepening regional fractures, with street protests in the Andes, institutional resets in Caracas, and macroeconomic adjustments in Brazil defining the current landscape.
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