When Argentina and Greece meet in the final Group B game of the World Cup on Tuesday, the European players might be asking for more than a change of shirts with Maradona’s men. For when their stay in South Africa comes to an end, the Greek team will return to a country mired in a debt crisis the likes of which haven’t been seen since 2001… in Argentina.

“Trade knows neither friends nor kindred.” This famous proverb could perfectly summarize the current relationship between Argentina and China. Over the past weeks, the two countries have entered into a kind of fresh trade war and their commercial partnership seems to be on a slippery slope. The measures are particularly problematic for Argentina, as the country’s exports are mainly based on agricultural commodities and, specifically, soybeans.

In Europe or in the US, if we took a poll to find out what the biggest concern was, many people would immediately reply: the credit crunch. But the response would be slightly different in Latin America and especially in Argentina where the economy has not been hit quite so hard. One question remains: why has the country escaped the worst of the financial crisis?

What was once a refusal to compromise and a sign of confidence has now become a signature mark of president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner’s desperation to avoid facing the opposition. In 2007, President Kirchner followed husband Nestor Kirchner into the presidential seat with a 66% approval rating, winning under the slogan of ‘Cambio y Continuidad’ – ‘Change and Continuity’.

The recent electoral reform introduced by the government will bring about important changes in the political universe of political parties. With more than 700 organisations, the new rule makes it harder for parties to register and keep their status as such. Despite the first and evident reactions by many political groups, in particular the relatively small ones, the changes might bring about some positive aspects of the heavily fragmented political scenario.

In little over a fortnight, Argentines will head to the polls in an election which, many believe, will threaten President Cristina Kirchner’s comfortable majority in Congress. On 28th June, half the seats in the Chamber of Deputies and a third of those that comprise the Senate will be up for election.

Argentines have always had a predisposition towards political necrophilia. Thirty-five years after his death, Juan Domingo Perón still weighs heavily on Argentine politics. It is no surprise, then, that the recent death of ex-president Raúl Alfonsín has sent ripples through Argentine politics. The local press has been chattering excitedly about the so-called ‘Alfonsín Effect’.

Argentine politics is always surprising us, especially for its incredible creativity to come up with new concepts, techniques, strategies and loopholes. On 28th June, Argentines are choosing 158 congress members, both deputies and senators. This election is vital for the government as it needs to keep a majority in both chambers to get its laws approved.

Canadians fit in a rare category in the Americas: this nation does not have a president. Sure, you can blame it on the Queen for not tolerating any other woman take up Canada’s paramount position. But she actually does not have any more political say than you or I have over this northern nation

After covering the Middle East for news giant CNN for ten years, Argentine broadcast journalist, Teresa Bo, explains why a move to brand new channel Al Jazeera English was too good an opportunity to turn down.