Reforms at risk in Latin America's elections
A busy political season will put recent market-friendly energy changes to the test
On 24 January, Brazilians were transfixed by proceedings in a courtroom in the southern city of Porto Alegre. After nine hours of deliberations, a three-judge panel unanimously upheld a corruption conviction and prison sentence related to the sweeping Lavo Jato scandal for former president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, known simply as Lula. The ruling, on top of being a landmark moment in the vast corruption scandal, scrambled the political landscape ahead of elections in October. Leftist leader Lula, who maintains a wide base of support despite the corruption conviction, was planning a bid to return to the presidency and had been leading in polls. The 24 January decision doesn't end those chan
Also in this section
2 April 2026
Alongside a rapid continued build-out of renewables, China’s latest five-year plan stresses the value of domestic hydrocarbon production for energy security and calls for increased Russian gas imports
2 April 2026
The government is taking important steps to revive domestic production, lift investment and benefit from the geopolitical crisis even if more needs to be done in the longer term
1 April 2026
Golden Pass’s startup offers QatarEnergy a timely boost but may also force a difficult choice between honouring disrupted contracts and capitalising on soaring spot LNG prices
1 April 2026
It is not a case of if or when, but the length and magnitude of economic damage from elevated oil prices
