Legislative elections will be a referendum on the reformist president

Maduro’s embattled socialists win 17 of 23 governorships in defiance of opinion polls

Move could require $30bn a year or more in international help

Margarita Zavala quits opposition National Action Party after clashing with leader

Inspired by Catalonia, southern states stage symbolic referendum to split from nation

Centrist technocrats are back in fashion, but obstacles lie ahead

Exiled mayor David Smolansky says country has moved closer to a totalitarian regime

Distrust in the government was amplified by less-than-stellar communication

Corruption and the lure of populism hang over the country ahead of an all-important presidential election in 2018

For President Temer relief may be only temporary as country’s chief prosecutor bows out with a bang

Government’s latest effort to arrest country’s decline could do more harm than good

Talks set with Russia over restructuring, Moscow says

Pope Francis visits a country enjoying fragile but seemingly irreversible peace process

Prosecutors say ex-governor arranged for $2m to be paid to IOC member for vote

Departure of Rodrigo Valdés lifts investor hopes of Bachelet election defeat

Primaries seen as vote of confidence in Mauricio Macri’s reform agenda

Mercosur and others call for dialogue and diplomacy not violence

US president turns verbal fire towards Latin American political crisis

Leftist leaders increasingly isolated as voters seek stability, says Jaime Durán Barba

Social security overhaul is key part of plan to rein in budget deficit

Former presidential candidate Capriles calls for socialist coalition to defeat Maduro

Ten dead in clashes as country elects assembly that critics say will snuff out democracy

Rising violence and budget crisis are weakening authorities’ grip on city after Olympics