Latin America’s Ascendant Right Is Tested at the Ballot Box

The highlights this week: Weekend elections in Chile and Ecuador test the power of the region’s ascendant right, city governments have a moment in the sun at COP30 , and the United States rolls back agricultural tariffs .

Welcome back to Foreign Policy’s Latin America Brief.

The highlights this week: Weekend elections in Chile and Ecuador test the power of the region’s ascendant right, city governments have a moment in the sun at COP30, and the United States rolls back agricultural tariffs.

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Sheriff Politics

Last weekend saw two major elections in Latin America: Chile held a general election, while Ecuadorians voted on a set of proposals put forth by President Daniel Noboa, including one that would have allowed foreign military bases in the country.

Chile’s election results appeared to confirm that the political right is on the rise across Latin America, from Argentina to Bolivia, fueled by public calls for a tougher approach on crime. But at the same time, Ecuador’s referendum showed that there are limits to the leeway voters will give right-wing politicians to pursue hard-line strategies if they do not show results.

In the first round of Chile’s presidential election, Communist Party candidate Jeannette Jara came in first with around 27 percent of the vote, but right-wing candidates collectively received the majority of support.