2023 was an eventful year even for the standards of Latin America. From natural disasters to political turmoil to sports and pop culture, the region saw a flurry of events that dominated the public agenda. We take a look at some of the highlights.
Riots in Brazil
Former President Jair Bolsonaro was dubbed the "Trump of the tropics" by analysts and media outlets. And after failing to win re-election in the 2022 elections, his followers made a decision similar to those of Trump's in the United States: they attacked the main government buildings in Brasilia, seeking to overthrow the government of Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva. The attempt failed and, although not exclusively as a result of this event, Bolsonaro was banned from seeking public office for eight years.
Hurricane Otis
The phenomenon was the strongest one to ever make landfall in the Mexican Pacific and the first category 5 one in the Saffir-Simpson scale. After swiftly gaining intensity, Otis hit a peak speed of 165 mph (270 kmh). The hurricane quickly lost power, but it was enough to make historic damage to the coastal city of Acapulco and cause at least 47 deaths. 59 people are still not accounted for either.
Daddy Yankee Retires
Reggaeton pioneer and one of the most prominent figures in the history of the genre, Daddy Yankee, retired from the stages in late 2023. In his last concert, he announced a drastic change in his life, embracing Christianity as a way of life. He also expressed his desire to pivot towards different ventures, including producing content for video streaming platforms, with two series already featured on Netflix, and delving into the sports world with his investment in a professional padel league earlier in May, as well as his ownership of Puerto Rico professional baseball team Los Cangrejeros de Santurce.
The kidnapping of Luis Díaz's parents
The world collectively held its breath and looked on Colombia after armed guerrilla ELN kidnapped the parents of soccer superstar Luis Díaz. Even though his mother was quickly released and the group showed willingness to do the same with his father, the ordeal continued for days. Luis "Mane" Díaz was finally released and reunited with his son.
Taylor Swift in South America
Taylor Swift captivated crowds around the world with her Eras Tour, and South America was no exception. The singer performed in Argentina, Brazil and Mexico, attracting hundreds of thousands in each country. Her stint in Brazil, however, was marked by tragedy after a fan died of heat exhaustion before one of her shows amid a historic heatwave.
Opposition primaries in Venezuela
The United States agreed to ease oil and gas sanctions against Maduro's government after it struck a deal with the opposition to hold an election the international community hopes will restore democracy in the crisis-wracked country. However, the government subsequently rejected the outcome of an opposition primary to choose a presidential candidate. That vote earlier this month was won by María Corina Machado, 56, who is banned from holding office for 15 years. Maduro's administration has launched a probe into the primary, claiming it was tainted by fraud. Maduro has challenged the decision.
Crossing the Darien Gap
The Darien Gap has become in the past years into a main irregular migration route. Despite it being a treacherous path, it is the only one connecting South and Central America, leading potential asylum seekers to take it anyway. The amounts of people crossing hasn't stopped growing, going from over a quarter million in 2022 to over 500,000 in 2023, according to Human Rights Watch.
Another historical win for Argentina
The Argentine national soccer team continued making history in 2023, becoming the first team to ever beat Brazil at home in a World Cup Qualifier match. It was a 1-0 victory with a header of defender Nicolás Otamendi. The game, however, was marked by violence after police officers beat Argentine fans inside the stadium, putting the event in jeopardy.
Milei elected as Argentine president
The Argentine political landscape was shook again in November with the election of Javier Milei to the presidency. Milei beat Peronist Sergio Massa in the runoff with almost 56 percent of the vote and hasn't taken long to introduce a series of sweeping measures aimed at changing the fabric of the Argentine state.
Peso Pluma takes over the continent
Mexican singer Peso Pluma has taken the continent by storm, also captivating audiences in the United States. According to The Hollywood Reporter, Peso Pluma has become the most-watched artist on YouTube in the U.S., overtaking the likes of Bad Bunny and Taylor Swift. His tour "Doble P" was one of the most lucrative in the world.
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