Canning Papers | Election Watch 2018

Election Watch 2018: Canning Papers

18th Jan 2018

By the end of 2018, a very different political landscape could have emerged across Latin America and the Caribbean. We can expect to see reactions at the ballot box to a wide range issues such as: disillusionment with traditional ruling classes due to corruption; the election of a populist president in the US; huge reform programmes instigated by current regimes; and crime and violence trends that have not seen the improvement that incumbent governments would like.

Who is competing for power in 2018

To highlight some of the most important points to watch: in Central America, Costa Rica will see an unpredictable poll in February. A series of corruption scandals have come to light, leaving voters jaded and disillusioned with their rulers. The disillusionment continues in El Salvador, which will elect a new legislature and new mayors in March. Here the disenchantment is more about the current government’s perceived failure to tackle persistently high homicide rates.

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