Latin America and the Caribbean

Trusted news agencies tracing tendencies of democratisation and autocratisation globally

Clean elections12. March

Sheinbaum has Plan B after Mexican parliament rejects electoral reform

Clean elections11. March

Kast takes office as Chilean president marking shift to the right

Clean elections11. March

Colombian president's party ahead in congress vote, but no majority

Clean elections09. March

Colombians are electing a new Congress, Petro's leftist bloc leads

Colombians elected a new Congress on Sunday, along with a primary election for the selection of candidates ahead of the presidential elections in May. The day saw plenty of action, with preliminary results showing leftist coalition of outgoing President Petro finishing first.

DNA

Equal protection06. March

Judge: Mexican ministry must release documents on abducted students

One night in 2014, a group of young men from a rural teachers’ college in Mexico vanished. Since then, their families have been fighting for answers.

DNA

Clean elections27. February

Mexican president presents her electoral reform initiative

Elections are an important factor in determining democracy in a country. How the electoral system works in detail is a decisive factor in this. In Mexico, President Claudia Sheinbaum has announced a comprehensive reform in this area – and is facing a lot of criticism as a result.

DNA

Civil Society Participation20. February

Workers in Argentina stage general strike over Milei's labour reform

Milei has sparked a general strike in Argentina after he proposed reducing the number of government ministries and addressing economic challenges through spending cuts and fiscal reforms.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties20. February

Venezuelan parliament greenlights amnesty for political prisoners

Venezuelan lawmakers have passed new legislation that gives amnesty to hundreds of people prosecuted or convicted for political reasons during 27 years of authoritarian rule.

DNA

Legislative constraints on the executive19. February

Peru's Congress elects Balcázar as interim president

José María Balcázar was chosen as Peru's interim president by Congress. He is the eighth president in a decade and will govern until general elections on April 12 result in a new president.

DNA

Equality before the law and individual liberties19. February

Relatives' hunger strike for freedom of Venezuelan political prisoners

Venezuela has been experiencing turbulent weeks since the beginning of the year. The promised release of political prisoners has yet to materialise in some cases. Some families who have not yet seen their loved ones released from prison have now begun a hunger strike.

AFP English

Legislative constraints on the executive18. February

Peru's president removed from office after only four months

Seven presidents in just under ten years: the political situation in Peru remains unstable. This is why parliament dismissed José Jerí and what MPs are criticising.

DNA

Clean elections13. February

Venezuela leader says 'absolutely' committed to hold free elections

Venezuela's interim president Rodríguez says she is committed to elections but declines to set a date. Sanctions must be lifted, she says. She also queried the role of Nobel laureate Machado. Parliament in Caracas has postponed a debate on amnesty for political prisoners.

DNA

Equality before the law11. February

Missing Venezuelan opposition politician now under house arrest

After more than a day of uncertainty about his whereabouts, Venezuelan opposition politician Juan Pablo Guanipa is under house arrest, according to his family. His son is demanding his complete release.

DNA

Equality before the law10. February

Opposition Venezuelan politician disappears after release

Prominent Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Pablo Guanipa disappeared only hours after his release from prison. His family are asking for proof of life, while the government claims he was arrested because of violations to the terms of his release.

DNA

Legislative constraints on the executive09. February

Presidential Council's mandate in Haiti has expired after rocky tenure

Poverty, widespread violence, no elections for a long time: Haiti lags far behind in terms of security and democracy. A presidential council was supposed to help improve the situation. Now, after two years, it has been dissolved – with a rather negative track record.

dpa

Clean elections06. February

Machado: New elections in Venezuela possible within 10 months

The long-awaited regime change in Venezuela has yet to take place but opposition leader Corina Machado is confident that citizens will soon be able to choose their own democratic leaders.

DNA

Clean elections02. February

Conservative Laura Fernández leads Costa Rican presidential election

All votes are yet to be counted but Costa Rican conservative Laura Fernández has nearly certainly obtained the job of president. Fernández was clearly ahead in opinion polls before Sunday's election and is considered the preferred candidate of outgoing President Rodrigo Chaves.

DNA