After the peak, the exhaustion of the Latin American left
After a string of electoral victories at the beginning of the decade, Latin American left-wing parties are losing momentum in many countries, giving rise to new right-wing figures with authoritarian overtones. For "Connectas," specialists on the continent analyze the causes of this slowdown as presidential elections loom in four countries.
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, and Brazil: presidential elections are approaching in these four South American countries. The ruling left is struggling, in a context marked by flagging popularity ratings, controversial figures, and a divided public debate that is radicalizing discourse to the detriment of moderate opinions.
In Bolivia, where the first round of the presidential election is scheduled for August 17, the current incumbent, Luis Arce, will not even seek a second term. According to Latinobarómetro 2024 [Latin American polling organization], he began his final year in office with an approval rating of barely 9%.
In addition to leading an unpopular government, Luis Arce is facing the disintegration of his party, the MAS (Movement Toward Socialism), which is embroiled in a bitter dispute with its founder, former president Evo Morales. Morales has not given up on seeking a fourth term , despite being declared ineligible and facing an arrest warrant for “rape, exploitation, and human trafficking.” His party's candidate for the upcoming elections, former Arce government minister Eduardo del Castillo, [is hovering between 1% and 2%] of voting intentions in the polls.
Courrier International
