Latin America’s year of elections will test the region’s democracies
The votes are unlikely to add new strongmen to those already in office
WHEN ECUADOREANS choose a new president and legislature on February 7th, they will begin a busy political year across Latin America. Chile, Haiti, Honduras, Peru and Nicaragua are due to hold national elections (see chart). Chile will elect a constitutional assembly. Argentina, El Salvador and Mexico will hold legislative and regional votes.
They are a diverse bunch. Chile is a mature democracy. Ecuador and Peru are rowdier ones and Haiti is dysfunctional. Nicaragua’s strongman, Daniel Ortega, has stamped out democracy. Nayib Bukele may be doing so in El Salvador. Chile and Peru have managed their economies well. Argentina and Ecuador have recently defaulted on their debts.
This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline "More mice than Mussolinis"
From the February 4th 2021 edition
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