LATAM POLITICS TODAY-Former Bolivian minister pleads guilty in U.S. corruption case

The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) said the measures are intended to curb the "distribution and sharing of knowingly untrue or gravely decontextualized information affecting the electoral process," according to the resolution. Brazil IDB nomination meets resistance from Lula allies BRASILIA - Brazil's nomination to head the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is facing resistance among allies of leftist presidential front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who would have no formal say even if he wins office this month. The government of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has already begun seeking regional support for its nominee to run the development bank.

The latest in Latin American politics today: Former Bolivian minister pleads guilty in U.S. corruption case

Arturo Murillo, who served as interior minister in Bolivia between 2019 and 2020, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. court to conspiracy to money laundering, the U.S. Justice Department said. Murillo received at least $532,000 in bribes from a Florida-based company in exchange for helping the company secure a $5.6 million contract to provide tear gas and other equipment to the Bolivian Ministry of Defense, the Justice Department said.

He faces up to 10 years in prison. Bolivia's government has requested Murillo's extradition to Bolivia, where he also faces a host of criminal charges, having fled after former President Evo Morales' party retook power in 2020, only to be arrested in the United States last May. Colombia's president sees approval rates fall to 46%

BOGOTA - Colombian President Gustavo Petro's approval has fallen 10 percentage points to 46% in the months since taking office in August, while his disapproval doubled to 40%, according to an Invamer poll. About 64% of those surveyed responded that they think the situation in the country is getting worse, compared with 48% in the previous survey.

The main problems they pointed to include unemployment, the economy, corruption and insecurity, while Petro - who is Colombia's first ever left-wing president - is currently trying to manage a drop in the value of the local peso. Meanwhile, potential cocaine production in Colombia reached the highest figures in two decades of monitoring last year, according to the latest data from the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC).

OAS backs Peru's Castillo, will send mission amid coup claims LIMA - The Organization of American States (OAS) has approved to send a mission to Peru amid pressure from the country's opposition to remove President Pedro Castillo from power, which he has denounced as a coup attempt.

The endorsement was approved via a resolution that calls on all political actors in Peru to have "respect for the rule of law." Peru's Foreign Minister Cesar Landa said that the "high-level" mission of the OAS will allow "a plural and objective assessment of the situation."

It was not clear when the OAS mission would visit Lima. Brazil electoral court hardens disinformation policy in Lula-Bolsonaro runoff

BRASILIA - Brazil's national electoral authority is announcing moves to crack down harder on online disinformation in a fierce presidential campaign between far-right incumbent Jair Bolsonaro and leftist challenger Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. The Superior Electoral Court (TSE) said the measures are intended to curb the "distribution and sharing of knowingly untrue or gravely decontextualized information affecting the electoral process," according to the resolution.

Brazil IDB nomination meets resistance from Lula allies BRASILIA - Brazil's nomination to head the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is facing resistance among allies of leftist presidential front-runner Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who would have no formal say even if he wins office this month.

The government of right-wing President Jair Bolsonaro has already begun seeking regional support for its nominee to run the development bank. Brazil aims to nominate former central bank chief Ilan Goldfajn in coming days, according to a source familiar with the government's plans. However, two close advisers to Lula said they believed the IDB leadership vote, scheduled for Nov. 20, should be postponed to next year so Brazil's nomination reflects the will of a newly elected government.

Ecuador could save up to $250 million with narrower fuel subsidies QUITO - Ecuador's government could save between $150 million and $250 million by focusing fuel subsidies on the neediest consumers and businesses, officials said.

The change to the government's swollen budget for the subsidies is part of an agreement signed last week with indigenous groups, following months of dialogue on debt forgiveness, oil and mining policy and other issues. (Compiled by Steven Grattan and Isabel Woodford; editing by Diane Craft and Lisa Shumaker)

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