Mauricio Macri to urge Mercosur to bar Venezuela

Anyone wondering how Mauricio Macri might change the tone of Latin American politics got a clear steer at the Argentine president-elect’s first press conference on Monday when he openly criticised Venezuela and the democratic abuses of its socialist government. The centre-right Mr Macri said he would seek Venezuela’s suspension from regional Mercosur trade bloc over rights abuses committed by President Nicolás Maduro’s administration. “It is evident that the bloc’s [democratic] clause should be invoked because the [human rights] accusations are clear and without doubt; they are not made up,” Mr Macri said. More…