On June 17, 2018, Iván Duque, the candidate for Colombia’s rightwing Centro Democrático Party, took 54% of the vote in Colombia’s second-round presidential election, decisively defeating the candidate of the imperfectly united political left, Gustavo Petro, who received 42% of the votes cast. The pro-business and anti-guerrilla protégé of former President Álvaro Uribe, Duque has

On June 3, 2018, Guatemala’s Volcán de Fuego began a series of eruptions that left over one hundred people dead and hundreds more missing. In the week that followed, popular anger swelled over government inaction and blatant incompetence. Commentators across the political spectrum condemned efforts by President Jimmy Morales’ administration to respond to the crisis

At the end of May 2018, the months-long process by the United States, Mexico, and Canada to update the North American Free Trade Agreement, or NAFTA, broke down because of last minute demands by the administration of U.S. President Donald Trump. When the United States subsequently announced tariffs on steel and aluminum, the Mexicans and

On May 27, 2018, close to 20 million Colombians voted in their nation’s first-round presidential election. It was the highest turnout for an election in 20 years, and the most peaceful day of voting in over half a century. The contest trimmed the field down to two candidates, the rightwing protégée of former President Álvaro

On May 20, 2018, Venezuela went through with its presidential election, despite calls from around the world for its postponement and reorganization. President Nicolás Maduro stood for re-election in a country consumed by a deep economic, social, and political crisis. Labeled “illegitimate” by the fractured opposition, many elements of which called for abstention, the election’s

On May 8, 2018, Argentine President Mauricio Macri went to the International Monetary Fund for help as a “preventative” measure after the nation’s currency plummeted amid high inflation and rising U.S. interest rates. In recent weeks, investors have fled Argentina, driving up demand for U.S. dollars, and pushing the peso down. Argentina asked for “stand

Amid protests and violent repression that has left more than 60 people dead, hundreds injured, and many others “disappeared” in Nicaragua, a growing movement emerged in late April, 2018 demanding President Daniel Ortega’s resignation, along with that of his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. The deadly action by police against demonstrators, along with censorship of

On April 19, 2018, the National Assembly of Cuba confirmed Miguel Díaz-Canel as the new president of the Council of State, the country’s leader for all practical purposes. The parliament ratified the former vice president with the votes of 99.83% of the deputies present. Díaz-Canel replaces General Raúl Castro, who retires from the position after

Corruption and the ongoing crisis in Venezuela were the main agenda items at the subdued VIII Summit of the Americas held in Lima, Peru, on April 13-14, 2018. Many heads of state did not participate, some in acts of solidarity with Venezuela and others because of looming domestic matters. In fact, the sparse attendance raised

On Saturday, April 7, 2018, former President Lula da Silva turned himself in to police, ending four days of intense drama during which Lula had been waiting at the metalworkers union in São Bernardo do Campo for the Brazilian Supreme Court to decide his fate. Huge crowds of pro-Lula protesters surrounded his car and chanted,