The desire for change has rarely been this strong in Venezuela. On January 10, Nicolás Maduro staged a swearing-in ceremony that he hoped would legitimize the beginning of his second six-year term as Venezuela’s president. After succeeding the late Hugo Chávez, Maduro won a special election in April 2013. Back...
Despite the deep blows that a series of scandals is inflicting upon Peru’s political establishment and government institutions, the country is leading the way in the regional fight against impunity and graft. Peru is one of Latin America’s most dynamic economies, being a founding member of the regional Pacific Alliance,...
The International Commission Against Impunity in Guatemala has gained important enemies and faces an unprecedented level of opposition within the country’s highest levels of government. Guatemala’s history over the last century has been one of the most troubled, as well as most heavily influenced by foreign interventions, in all of...
Thus far, FARC politicians in congress are keeping up their end of the Havana accords and actively participating in Colombia’s democratic process. During the months of August through October of last year, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) guerrillas transformed into a law-abiding political party. Giving up their weaponry...
Ortega’s critics, which include former allies and comrades-in-arms, see him as a corrupt authoritarian who turned his back on his revolutionary ideals. At 73, Nicaragua’s president, Daniel Ortega, is one of Latin America’s most emblematic and controversial figures of the last several decades. Adding up his first presidential terms —...
If the exodus continues, the staggering amount of Venezuelan refugees spread throughout the Western Hemisphere could eclipse the total of 6 million that have fled from war in Syria. Numerous countries and regions across the globe are experiencing the consequences of mass migration waves due to violent conflicts, food insecurity,...
Ushered into the presidency by the soft populism of Rafael Correa, Lenin Moreno’s administration began its term with high levels of popularity. It has been more than a year since Lenin Moreno was elected president of Ecuador for a four-year term. Moreno, who is 65, ran as a candidate of...
The new president must choose between respecting the independence of Colombia’s judiciary and standing by the innocence of his political mentor. The inauguration of Ivan Duque as Colombia’s new president took place on August 7, on what was an extremely windy afternoon in the capital city of Bogotá. The inclement...
Juan Manuel Santos leaves office as one of the most unpopular presidents in Colombia’s modern history. On August 7, the presidency of Juan Manuel Santos — Colombia’s peacemaker — comes to an end after two terms in office. Santos, who turns 67 on August 10, has stated in numerous interviews...
Iván Duque’s foreign policy will center on reinforcing ties with Colombia’s traditional allies and securing international support for the administration’s agenda. This has been a critical year for Colombian politics. In March, a new congress was elected and, three months later, Iván Duque won the presidency when he defeated the...
