Where’s the party? Is Colombia about to become Peru?

elections

Democracy & Elections

Where’s the party? Is Colombia about to become Peru?

By Christopher Sabatini / chrissabatini / February 14, 2019

Ivan Duque’s low approval ratings have been blamed on missteps, migrants and a mentor that never seems to go away. But there are structural reasons too, and those aren’t likely to go away after his term.

In a strong rebuke to traditional parties, Nayib Bukele wins the Salvadoran presidency

By Lucas Perelló / lucasperello / February 4, 2019

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.

Democracy & Elections

In a familiar scenario in the region, Salvadorans upset with traditional parties are betting on a political maverick

By Lucas Perelló / lucasperello / January 16, 2019

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.

Human Rights & Multilateral Organizations

OAS Permanent Council rejects Nicolas Maduro’s new term

By Victoria Gaytan / VickyGO / January 10, 2019

With 19 votes in favor, the Permanent Council of the Organization of American States (OAS) agreed “to not recognize the legitimacy of Nicolas Maduro’s new term as of the 10th of January of 2019.”

Democracy & Elections

Guyana at Risk: Ethnic politics, oil, Venezuelan opportunism and why it should matter to Washington

By Evan Ellis / REvanEllis / December 31, 2018

A no-confidence vote in the parliament has triggered new elections, at a time—not coincidentally—that the country is grappling with how to manage its oil windfall. The U.S. can help.

Policymaking

The many messages of AMLO’s first address to the nation

By Victoria Gaytan / VickyGO / December 7, 2018

Unlike his victory speech, AMLO’s first address as President of Mexico was full of mixed messages, casting even more doubt over the country’s course for the next six years.

Democracy & Elections

In a historic landslide, Democrats flipped a net of 40 House seats. Here’s how they performed in swing districts with large Hispanic populations

By William Naylor / wm_naylor / November 30, 2018

Now that slow-to-count California races have been called, it’s clear that Democrat’s performance in heavily Hispanic districts is one of the biggest stories of the 2018 midterms. Those districts accounted for 32.5 percent of total Democratic gains.

Democracy & Elections

What difference will the mid-terms make on U.S.-Latin America policy?

By Christopher Sabatini / chrissabatini / November 9, 2018

The new Democratic majority in the House will likely elevate a well-known, moderate Latin America advocate to chair the Foreign Relations Committee and provide a balance to the administration’s possible bro-mance with Bolsonaro.

Foreign Policy & U.S./Latin America Relations

What will Brazil’s foreign policy look like under Bolsonaro?

By Gilberto M. A. Rodrigues / November 1, 2018

A review of the main issues that will drive the foreign policy of the new far right Bolsonaro government, as well as the potential regional and global consequences.

Democracy & Elections

Bolsonaro should follow Lula’s 2003 example

By Patricio Navia / patricionavia / October 24, 2018

If Bolsonaro governs as a pragmatic and moderate president, he can put Brazil back on the path of economic growth without undermining democratic institutions.