Quantcast
Channel: The Argentina Independent » Expropriation
Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 20

Argentina News Roundup: 24th April 2014

0
0
Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich announcing the discontinuation of publishing of poverty statistics (Photo: Ricardo Ceppi/Prensa Jefatura de Gabinete/Télam/jc)

Cabinet Chief Jorge Capitanich announcing the discontinuation of publication of poverty statistics (Photo: Ricardo Ceppi/Prensa Jefatura de Gabinete/Télam/jc)

Government Discontinues Publication of Poverty Statistics: The National Institute for Statistics and Censuses (INDEC) will not be publishing the results of the ‘Permanent Homes Survey’ (EPH) for the second semester of 2013. Cabinet Chief, Jorge Capitanich, said this morning that the results would not be made public as there were “methodological problems” due to the updating of some ways of calculating the information, which has led to the data being “lacking”. He said that the new federal consumer price index, introduced in January, had caused the issues, as calculations had changed from being a provincial to a country-wide in some areas. Capitanich went on to say that when the figures were deemed to be correct, they would be published once again, although he could not give a date as to when that would be.

Critics have called the decision political, saying the government is deliberately hiding the numbers as poverty has increased. Former director if INDEC, Graciela Bevacqua, told InfoBAE that she believes the number of those living in poverty in the country could be over 20%. The EPH published in October, which gave figures for the first semester of 2013, showed 1.2m people lived below the poverty line, and 367,000 in extreme poverty, representing 4.7% and 1.2% of the country’s population respectively. The figures also showed a decrease in the numbers living in poverty from the previous year. However, these numbers were widely disputed by private consultants, some of whom put the numbers at closer to 5m and 1m respectively, whilst others said the number living in poverty is around 25% of the country’s population.

Buenos Aires Province Crime Statistics Published: The official Attorney General’s report on 2013 crime statistics in Buenos Aires province was published today, and shows a rise in crimes in many areas. Around 70% of the cases occurred in Greater Buenos Aires, where 12m of the province’s 16m inhabitants reside. Last year, 1,295 murders took place, an 8% rise on 2012. Of these, 76 were a result of robberies. The total number of robberies and thefts also rose, from 124,000 in 2012 to 143,000 last year, an increase of 15%. There were also 52 kidnappings for ransom, 18 more than the previous year. The one area where the numbers were down on 2012’s statistics was in the case of rape and sexual violence, which saw a 13% fall. Of the crimes reported, two areas of Greater Buenos Aires saw a large number of the crimes – Lomas de Zamora experienced 15% of the total number of crimes, followed by San Martín, at just over 10%. Earlier this month Governor Daniel Scioli declared a “security emergency” in the province, and invoked special measures for a period of 12 months, including the recall of 15,000 police officers from retirement.

Deputies applaud as the agreement becomes law (photo: Fernando Sturla/Télam/jc)

Deputies applaud as the agreement becomes law (photo: Fernando Sturla/Télam/jc)

Agreement with Repsol over YPF Expropriation Becomes Law: After almost 16 hours of debate in which over 120 speeches were made, deputies have signed into law the agreement with Repsol over 2012’s renationalisation of 51% shares in Argentina’s YPF oil company. The vote, which took place in the early hours of this morning, had 135 votes in favour, 59 against, and 42 abstentions. Repsol and the government of Cristina Fernández de Kirchner signed the settlement on 27th February, which consists of a fixed package of three types of sovereign bonds with a nominal value of US$5bn, and a complementary package of three other bonds worth a maximum of US$1bn, to cover any reductions in the market value of the first package. Opening yesterday’s debate, president of the Energy and Fuel Commission, Mario Metaza, said that the agreement with Repsol over YPF “strengthens confidence in the country” and confers “a favourable climate for investment”. The Senate ratified the agreement in March, and with last night’s vote in Congress, the deal has officially become law, ending the country’s two-year quarrel with Spain over the expropriation.

The post Argentina News Roundup: 24th April 2014 appeared first on The Argentina Independent.


Viewing all articles
Browse latest Browse all 20

Latest Images

Trending Articles





Latest Images