See division between left and right in Latin America

The victory of Yamandú Orsi, from the progressive Frente Amplio party, in the presidential elections in Uruguay, this Sunday (24), expanded the leftist wave in force in Latin America.

Orsi will replace the conservative management of Luis Lacalle Pou from March next year, the date of his inauguration. Uruguay goes against the grain of other countries in the region that elected right-wing rulers in the last national elections, such as Argentina, under Javier Milei, Paraguay, under Santiago Peña and Panama, under José Raúl Mulino.

Currently, six countries in Latin America are aligned with right-wing ideals.

A Argentina It was the most emblematic case in recent years, since the victory of libertarian Javier Milei removed Peronism from power, which had won four of the five previous disputes for the Casa Rosada.

Milei defeated Peronist Sergio Massa, supported by former president Alberto Fernández and his vice, Cristina Kirchner, who also previously governed the country.

Since his inauguration in December last year, Milei has adopted several policies to boost the Argentine economy – which saw a worsening of the crisis during the previous administration – as well as measures to reduce the size of the State, including the mass dismissal of public employees and extinction of bodies.

More recently, Milei also criticized members of his government, such as his deputy Victoria Villarruel, and even fired the country’s chancellor for having voted at the UN in favor of Cuba, a socialist dictatorship much criticized by the Argentine president.

In October last year, the Ecuador It also took a turn to the right with the victory of businessman Daniel Noboa, who defeated Correísmo in the presidential elections, with the promise of fighting organized crime harshly.

Noboa was elected in early elections due to the departure of former president Guillermo Lasso, who chose to leave office before the end of his term applying the so-called “cross death” in May last year.

No ParaguaySantiago Peña maintained the hegemony of the right-wing Colorado party by winning the presidential elections in April last year. He succeeded party colleague Mario Abdo Benítez.

Already Costa Rica“anti-establishment” economist Rodrigo Chaves was elected in 2022 to lead one of the most stable countries in the region. His tenure will only end in 2026.

In May this year, the Panama also elected a right-wing candidate to govern the country: José Raúl Mulino.

During the presidential campaign, Mulino asked Donald Trump for help in closing the world’s most dangerous jungle, illegal immigration route, Darién.

During the years he served as Minister of Security in Ricardo Martinelli’s government, Mulino also managed to get the country’s military forces to put an end to the FARC’s presence in the stretch of jungle located in Panamanian territory.

Last week, the Central American country announced that it is on track to become a member of Mercosur. According to Mulino, the document that formalizes the State’s intention to become an associate member must be signed during the next Mercosur summit, scheduled for next month, in Uruguay.

Another Central American country that chose a right-wing leader was El Salvador, whose president is Nayib Bukele, known for his tough measures against crime in the country.

His main project, which received strong popular support, was the construction of a mega-prison to put an end to the gangs that controlled the country and threatened its citizens on a daily basis.

No Peruthe representative Dina Boluarte, who was vice-president of the leftist Pedro Castillo – dismissed and arrested at the end of 2022 after trying to carry out a coup d’état – divides opinions due to the support received from the right in the last years of her administration, even though she was elected in a left-wing government.

Despite the victories of the right in these countries, the left made some gains, as in Mexicowhere Claudia Sheinbaum, supported by former president López Obrador, was elected the first woman leading the country. His inauguration took place in October.

That same year, he took office at the Guatemala Bernardo Arévalo de León, from the center-left Semilla party, after strong pressure from the Public Ministry and the Judiciary to prevent his victory.

A few months later, center-left Luis Abinader won his second term as president of the Dominican RepublicCaribbean country.

O Brazil is led by the PT, with Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the head of the government since 2022, in his third presidential term, while the Colombia elected Gustavo Petro in the same year.

Em Hondurasthe leftist Xiomara Castro, from the Freedom and Refoundation party (Libre), won the elections in 2021. Last year, the president rejected the recognition of Taiwan and established ties with China, which has increasingly invested in Latin America.

Still in 2021, Gabriel Boric defeated the conservative José Kast in the Chile and was elected president. New presidential elections are scheduled for next year.

In 2020, the Bolivia also elected a new president aligned with progressivism: Luis Arce, involved in a fierce political dispute with his predecessor and former political godfather, Evo Morales.

O Suriname ea Guiana also elected their presidents in 2020: center-left candidates Chan Santokhi and leftist Irfaan Ali, respectively, the latter involved in a territorial dispute with Venezuelan dictator Nicolás Maduro last year.

In addition to countries considered “moderate left”, there are also socialist dictatorships in force in the region, whose leaders do not intend to leave power anytime soon. They are the Nicaragua by Daniel Ortega; Venezuelawith the Nicolás Maduro regime; and Cuba commanded by Miguel Diáz-Canel.