The virus that has long infected Latin American politics to torpedo presidential/vice-presidential tandems, both on the left and the right, and both before and after taking office, continues to wreak havoc. The most notable recent cases are those of Alberto Fernández and Cristina Fernández (Argentina), Daniel Noboa and Verónica Abad (Ecuador), and Javier Milei and Victoria Villaruel (Argentina again). Now, the somehow surprising case of the recently inaugurated Rodrigo Paz and Edmundo Lara in Bolivia is added to the list. Often, it all stems from the disparity between the interests of one and the other, forming alliances useful to concentrate different electoral bases but weak on a personal or organizational level.
This Friday, supporters of Vice President Lara, a former police officer and TikTok influencer, protested the early snubbing he is allegedly experiencing from Paz. One of the main points being discussed is the introduction of a Vice Ministry of Legislative Coordination, that would take on several functions corresponding to the vice president, although operatives of the new head of the Great House of the People refer to it as seeking to "support" Lara's performance. Furthermore, the composition of the cabinet, which Paz presented as based on meritocracy, is being pointed out as heavily influenced by the eternal presidential candidate and millionaire businessman Samuel Doria Medina, who ended up endorsing Paz after a disappointing first electoral round for him.
"I voted for Lara, I didn't vote for Paz" and "Lara is not alone, damn it!" were some of the chants shouted by the demonstrators marching through the center of La Paz (source for the images shared below). So far, the new president has received strong support from the United States and, by spillover effect, other important international political-financial organizations, which have promised to inject dollars and supply the lacking fuel market. Paz won with a narrative much less aggressive in terms of economic adjustment than Doria or former President Tuto Quiroga. This could indicate that after 20 years of socialist governments, the electorate was not in the mood for too abrupt a change in the country's direction.
Argentina
Argentine authorities report a record drug interception, following an operation that involved collaboration from the Força Integrada de Combate ao Crime Organizado of the Brazilian state of Paraná. The shipment, amounting to 9.5 tons of cannabis sativa, was aboard a stolen truck driven by a Brazilian citizen by the roads of the northeastern province of Misiones.
OPERATIVO "GUINNESS ARGENTINO"
— Ministerio de Seguridad Nacional (@MinSeguridad_Ar) November 21, 2025
La mayor incautación de droga de la historia en Argentina. En Misiones incautamos 9.800 kilos de droga ocultos en un camión brasileño con pedido de secuestro.
Mediante la GNA y con ayuda del can Vera detectamos 326 bultos ocultos en el vehículo y… pic.twitter.com/QSggR2V7bQ
Jamaica
As a consequence of Hurricane Melissa, Jamaica is facing a complex leptospirosis outbreak preliminarily associated with about six deaths. Throughout November, nine cases have been confirmed and nearly thirty more are under investigation, indicated the head of the Health portfolio, who referred to how Melissa, which impacted the Caribbean island as a powerful category 5 hurricane and killed at least 45 people, increased the risk of transmission of the disease, which occurs through contact with urine or bodily fluids from infected animals. International organizations estimate the damages generated by the meteorological event at about 8.8 billion dollars, the costliest ever there.
This is all for today’s report.