Bolivia’s Attorney General Roger Mariaca spent the night in detention, and his office called the move illegal. Two days earlier, the United States had revoked his visa over alleged narco links. The guide’s regional roundup also tracks teachers marching in La Paz, a drivers’ union bargaining with ministers and a state of exception that bans blockades through December 17. Officials set rules in offices and ministries. Ordinary people face them in the street and at the checkout.
Who Sets the Rules
Urban teachers marched in La Paz on Wednesday. A drivers’ union stayed in talks with ministers and promised “no blockades during the talks.” Meanwhile, the state of exception that bars blockades remained in force through December 17. Evo Morales’s deadline to repeal government decrees was due to expire Saturday, October 3. The International Monetary Fund board was expected to vote on Bolivia’s programme Friday, October 2, with a first disbursement reported at around US$250 million.
Brazil and Peru were both scheduled to vote Sunday, October 4. Brazil’s polling stations were due to open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brasília time, while many municipalities restrict alcohol sales and traffic around polling stations. Brazil had 158,745,463 registered voters; a runoff, if needed, was scheduled for October 25. The guide says many municipalities would also step up policing around polling stations.
Peru’s regional and municipal elections are set to fill 13,148 posts. Under Ley 26859, article 351, an alcohol-sales ban runs from 8 a.m. Saturday to 8 a.m. Monday. The rules reach beyond the ballot, controlling sales and traffic around voting. Brazil’s final TV Globo campaign debate was scheduled for October 1 at 21:30 Brasília time. Flávio Bolsonaro, Ronaldo Caiado, Augusto Cury and Romeu Zema were confirmed, while Lula hadn’t confirmed as of Wednesday evening. A Datafolha poll from September 24 put Lula at 40 and Flávio at 36; an AtlasIntel final wave showed a 50–50 runoff.
The Cost Lands Below
Argentina’s October price adjustments took effect October 1. Buenos Aires bus fares and tolls rose 3.7%, bringing the minimum bus fare to AR$920.48 and the subway fare to AR$1,817. Residential gas rose an average 2.46%, while water in the capital region rose 2.17%, with an average bill of AR$38,002.57. Electricity distribution rose 2.41% at Edenor and 2.34% at Edesur. Prepaid health plans rose about 2% on average, and quarterly rents adjusted by the ICL index rose 6.72%.
The minimum pension stood at AR$435,748.51, or AR$505,748.51 with a AR$70,000 supplement. Under Milei, state jobs fell by 72,440, according to INDEC data. The Inocencia Fiscal II bill would cut tax fines 25%—a legislative measure listed alongside changes to transport, utilities, health plans and rent.
In Peru, the S/1,230 minimum wage, about US$357, took effect October 1. In Chile, unemployment reached 9.6% in the June–August quarter, the highest since May 2021 and up 1.0 percentage point in twelve months. The government’s 2027 budget raised spending 1.5%.
Money Managed From Above
Colombia’s central bank, Banco de la República, lifted its policy rate by 25 basis points to 12.25% on Wednesday, September 30, against market consensus for an unchanged 12%. The majority backed the decision. Inflation stayed above 6% during the year, reaching 6.1% in June and 6.2% in August, outside the bank’s 2% to 4% target range. Minutes were due Monday, October 5, and the next rate meeting was scheduled for October 30.
A shooting in Cauca brought Colombia’s social-leader killings to 117 that year. The guide also says the president rejected raising women’s retirement age to 62, while a visa-transfer window under Resolución 9316/2024 was due to close October 31, 2026.
Mexico’s Senate passed a foreign-investment reform 65–30 overnight. A constitutional reform barring dual nationals from the presidency, governorships and Mexico City’s mayoralty passed 86–42 on Tuesday and required ratification by a majority of the 32 state legislatures. The guide says naturalization, residency, nationality by birth abroad and voting rights were unchanged.
Hurricane Rachel strengthened to 90 mph (150 km/h), with pressure of 975 millibars, in the U.S. National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. MST advisory on September 30. Coastal watches and warnings had ended as the storm moved away from mainland Mexico, but rain, swells and life-threatening rip currents could still affect parts of the coast. Rachel could become a major hurricane within a couple of days, the guide said, but at sea.