Salvadorans voted for a populist maverick as their next president. But low voter turnout and a lack of friends in Congress promise to weaken the mandate of the president-elect.
In a strong rebuke to traditional parties, Nayib Bukele wins the Salvadoran presidency
In a familiar scenario in the region, Salvadorans upset with traditional parties are betting on a political maverick
Nayib Bukele, a former FMLN member now running as a third-party candidate, is expected to win the first round on February 3rd. The question now is whether or not he will amass sufficient support to avoid a runoff on March 10th.
2019: Trends, risks and hard questions in Latin America
Unresolved challenges of organized crime, weak governance and extra-hemispheric actors threaten instability and to erode U.S. influence. It’s time for U.S. policymakers to face some tough questions.
Ten highlights from Global Americans in 2018
We combed through all of our publications from 2018 and selected what we thought were the best ten articles that captured the trends and events of the past year.
Taiwan’s struggle for partners and survival
The ongoing PRC advance in Latin America and associated end to the diplomatic truce with the ROC has legitimately raised the question of who might be next to abandon Taiwan for the benefits that come with recognition of the mainland.
Central America: 2030 Trends
The reports examine five specific areas—transnational security challenges, institutional capacity, economic growth, demographics, and technology—and how they will shape politics, economic and U.S. relations in Central America by 2030.
Cutting aid to the Northern Triangle will only create the conditions for more migrants
Cutting aid to Guatemala, Honduras, and El Salvador would be counter-productive to U.S. interests, but maybe that’s what President Trump wants.
An outsider candidate looms large in El Salvador’s February presidential election
Widespread discontent with corruption-plagued traditional parties might result in a historical win for Nayib Bukele, a former FMLN member who is now running on a third-party platform.
El Salvador: A pragmatic U.S. response should follow Chinese inroads
Rather than ostracizing El Salvador, the U.S. should focus renewed attention on enhancing its support to Central American institutions working to enforce the rule of law.
El Salvador recognizes the PRC: Confrontation on the FMLN’s way out the door
El Salvador’s change will likely contribute to the sense of urgency of the remaining states that recognize Taiwan to follow the Salvadoran example and close a deal with the PRC before the opportunities for negotiating compensation for doing so dry up.
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