South America

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Former Uruguay President José Mujica talks at a press conference.

José Mujica - Former President of Uruguay (1935 – 2025)

Affectionately referred to as "Pepe," the former President of Uruguay was famed for his humble lifestyle and progressive policies. Serving from 2010 to 2015, Mujica donated the majority of his presidential salary to charities. His policies were focused on social equality, the legalisation of marijuana, same-sex marriage, and significant educational reforms. A former guerrilla fighter, Mujica spent over a decade in prison before transitioning into politics, where he became a symbol of integrity in leftwing governance. Pepe's legacy of social reform sets a positive example for politicians around the world.

José Mujica - Former President of Uruguay (1935 – 2025)

Protesters demand an end to the Presidency of Maduro. Many pro-human rights signs are held in the air as well as Venezuelan flags and a mega phone

Venezuelan Protests 2024 – Disputed Maduro Election Victory

Violent protests have erupted in Venezuela yet again after President Maduro claimed his third election victory since 2013. Ongoing U.S. interference and harsh sanctions have crippled the economy which has resulted in hyperinflation, power cuts, food and medical shortages, and discontent for years. Calls for audits have been made by several countries and opposition leader Edmundo Gonzalez after claims of electoral fraud based on voting tally irregularities. Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets to demonstrate their anger at Maduro’s apparent victory.

Venezuelan Protests 2024 – Disputed Maduro Election Victory

Illegal drugs are being confiscated in Ecuador. Packets are being loaded from a white pickup truck into a loading bay by three men wearing masks.

Ecuador Narco Gang Violence 2024 – State of Emergency, Guayaquil

Years of prison riots, underfunding, the escape of Jose Adolfo Macias (leader of prison gang Los Choneros) and rampant drug trafficking has plunged normally peaceful Ecuador into a security crisis. Violence drug gangs have taken prison guards hostage and held journalists at gun point as violence and fear grip residents. President Noboa has began a crackdown on gangs and implemented curfews in an attempt to control the situation.

Ecuador Narco Gang Violence 2024 – State of Emergency, Guayaquil

2024 Venezuelan presidential election

Venezuela is due to hold elections in 2024, although no date has yet been set. In October 2023, President Nicolás Maduro and representatives of the opposition coalition committed to a series of guarantees for a fair election that year, known as the Barbados Accord. However, democracy efforts suffered a setback when the opposition candidate, Maria Corina Machado, was banned from running. The disappearance and subsequent detention of activist Rocío San Miguel has raised concerns about possible repression. Maduro has been in power since 2013 and is expected to seek re-election, which, if he wins, could see him in office until 2030. Venezuela's political instability has led to at least 7.7 million Venezuelans fleeing the country, creating one of the world's largest migration crises.

2024 Venezuelan presidential election

Portrait of Argentinian elected president Javier Milei

Argentina’s Trump?

Javier Milei won the presidential election with 56% of the vote, making him the most popular president since Argentina's return to democracy. Milei describes himself as a far-right libertarian and built his political platform on blaming 'socialism' for the country's critical situation. Milei challenges the national consensus that Argentina's dictatorship committed genocide, and opposes the legalisation of same-sex marriage and abortion. He describes climate change as a 'socialist lie' and claims he can solve Argentina's main problem, rising inflation, by dollarising the country's economy.

Argentina’s Trump?

Minimalist graphic of the new Brazilain president smiling wearing a suit. The image of Lula is green infront of a yellow background

Lula da Silva – President of Brazil

An incredibly tight race gives Lula the reigns to a divided Brazil. After becoming Brazil's first working-class president over 20 years ago, many are hoping that his incredible political comeback will see the return of environmental protections, and improved conditions for the 100 million Brazilians living in poverty. Bolsonaro's catastrophic environmental record turned Brazil into a pariah, with COP 27 around the corner, we wait anxiously to see Lula’s stance.

Lula da Silva – President of Brazil

A black and white picture of the president of Chile shows a close up picture of Boric wearing a suit, smiling, and with his hand on his chest.

Gabriel Boric – Chilean President

With a vision of a greener, fairer, and more equal Chile, sparks of optimism are flying high not only in Chile but in the whole of Latin America who are hoping for a huge political shift, and looking to Boric to provide the positive example. As a leading figure in the Chilean student protests, and a key figure in the referendum to change the Constitution, he is the youngest President in Chile’s history, and the second youngest leader in the world. Hoping to bury Pinochet’s dictatorship once and for all, we eagerly await reforms on social justice, welfare, public spending, and inclusion.

Gabriel Boric – Chilean President

Women protester and raised fists holding a megaphone, in front of Peru flag

Peruvian Political Crisis and Protests 2022/23

Since 7 December 2022, Peru has been in chaos. Following an attempt by the now former president Pedro Castillo to suspend Congress and set up a "government of exception", which many Peruvians considered a coup attempt. Castillo was arrested and imprisoned. The new political turmoil triggered strikes and demonstrations across the country, which have resulted in the deaths of at least 55 people. Growing inequality, poverty, and inflation have exacerbated the situation, and calls for an early resignation of Dina Boluarte and an early election are the focus of protestors.

Peruvian Political Crisis and Protests 2022/23

2022 Brazil's General Election

The first round of the election was surprisingly close, with former president Lula da Silva receiving 48.4% of the vote, versus 43.2% for incumbent Bolsonaro, prompting a run-off election on 30 October. Although the outcome of the presidential race was not what the Brazilian left had hoped for, victories were achieved, such as the election of transgender candidates to congress for the first time in the countries history.

2022 Brazil's General Election

Colombian presidential election

Colombia has elected former guerrilla Gustavo Petro as president, along with Francia Márquez, making them the first left-wing government in the country's history and making Márquez the first black female vice-president. Petro's victory is seen as a break with the country's status quo and evidence of Colombians' strong desire for a new political path.

Colombian presidential election

Chile's New Constitution

In 2019, Chile erupted in mass protests following an increase in the price of the metro, the demonstrations, eventually turned into a fight against widespread inequality among the population, and to demand a new constitution to replace the one instituted during the Pinochet dictatorship. In October 2020, Chileans voted to rewrite this constitution in a referendum, and now in 2021 they elected the 155 new members who will rewrite it. With a surprising result, the majority of elected members are independent and from the opposition. Many Chileans are hopeful that this process will address the main problems plaguing Chilean society, and the eyes of Latin Americans are on this country in the hope that real change will begin here.

Chile's New Constitution

Serious looking white man with blue eyes wearing a suit speaking on a stage infront of the Brazilian flag

President Bolsonaro

Undoubtedly, the 38th Brazilian president has been the centre of many contentious headlines. He has been described as far-right and populist, and uncertainty about his decisions is growing. His management of the COVID-19 pandemic, and his relaxation of several environmental protection policies is of particular concern to watching eyes around the globe.

President Bolsonaro

U.S. backed Military Coup in Bolivia

In a shocking event, one of Latin America's longest leaders, Evo Morales, has resigned after nearly 14 years in power and announced new elections. For weeks Bolivia faced anti-government protests led by opposition leaders on OAS backed allegations of electoral fraud. The leader denounced a coup d'état after the military and police withdrew their support, leading him to announce his resignation to protect the Bolivarian people.

U.S. backed Military Coup in Bolivia

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