08-03-2018: Latin American Weekly Report

The threat posed by illegal armed groups to elections in Colombia might have diminished, but the present electoral process is still shaping up as one of the most violent and aggressive in years. There were three serious incidents over the course of last weekend alone as the campaign ahead of congressional elections on 11 March concluded. The run-up to presidential elections on 27 May could be punctuated by further violence in a deeply polarised contest. The decision by the Venezuelan government to shift its presidential elections back to 20 May, just one week before Colombia’s, will heighten tensions.