Brazil and Peru vote on Sunday, October 4, while the International Monetary Fund’s board is expected to decide on Bolivia’s programme Friday, October 2. The decisions cover national and local elections, economic policy and proposed financing; Bolivia’s first disbursement would be around US$250 million.
Ballots and Public Authority
Brazil’s polls open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Brasília time. The country has 158,745,463 registered voters. A runoff, if needed, is set for October 25. Many municipalities restrict alcohol sales and traffic near polling stations. Brazil’s betting-account withdrawals are due by 23:59 Brasília time on Monday, October 5.
Peru’s regional and municipal elections will fill 13,148 posts. Under Ley 26859, article 351, the alcohol-sales ban starts at 8 a.m. Saturday and ends at 8 a.m. Monday. Those rules govern voting and public activity around the polls. The guide reports no change to Peru’s electoral framework.
TV Globo’s final campaign debate in Brazil is 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; AtlasIntel’s final wave showed a 50–50 runoff. Brazil’s state audit court swore in Rodrigo Pacheco.
Economic Decisions and Costs
In Bolivia, authorities detained Attorney General Roger Mariaca overnight, and his office called the detention illegal. The guide says the United States had revoked his visa two days earlier over alleged narco links. The IMF board is expected to vote on Bolivia’s programme Friday, with a first disbursement reported at around US$250 million. A state of exception banning blockades remains in force through December 17. Urban teachers marched in La Paz on Wednesday. A drivers’ union stayed in talks with ministers and promised no blockades during the talks. Evo Morales’s deadline to repeal government decrees expires Saturday, October 3.
Colombia’s central bank, Banco de la República, raised its policy rate by 25 basis points to 12.25% on Wednesday, September 30. Markets had expected it to stay at 12%. Inflation stood at 6.1% in June and 6.2% in August, above the bank’s 2% to 4% target range. Minutes are due Monday, October 5, and the next rate meeting is scheduled for October 30.
Argentina’s October price adjustments took effect October 1. Buenos Aires bus fares and tolls rose 3.7%; the minimum bus fare is AR$920.48 and the subway fare is AR$1,817. Residential gas rose an average 2.46%, while water in the capital region rose 2.17%, bringing the average bill to AR$38,002.57. Electricity distribution rose 2.41% at Edenor and 2.34% at Edesur. Pensions rose 1.66%, and quarterly rents adjusted by the ICL index rose 6.72%. The minimum pension is AR$435,748.51, or AR$505,748.51 with a AR$70,000 supplement.
Rules, Markets and Regional Conditions
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. It now requires ratification by a majority of the 32 state legislatures. The guide says naturalization, residency, nationality by birth abroad and voting rights remain unchanged.
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%. Peru’s S/1,230 minimum wage, about US$357, took effect October 1.
Hurricane Rachel strengthened to 90 mph (150 km/h), with a pressure of 975 millibars, in the U.S. National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. MST advisory on September 30. Officials dropped coastal watches and warnings as Rachel moved away from mainland Mexico and passed south of the Baja California Peninsula. Another 2 to 4 inches of rain remained possible in coastal Guerrero, Michoacán, Colima and Jalisco, with isolated storm totals of 12 inches. The guide says the storm could become a major hurricane within a couple of days, but at sea.
The regional guide also lists Robbie Williams performing in Buenos Aires on October 1, October 2 and October 4; BTS in Bogotá on Friday and Saturday; Iron Maiden in Mexico City on Friday; and BTS beginning three nights in Lima on October 7.