Commemorations of President Hugo Chávez’s death on March 5, 2013 took place in Venezuela in early March, despite protests against his successor Nicolás Maduro that have shaken the country and called into question the legacy of “El Comandante.”  Public criticism of Maduro’s handling of the crisis remained muted in the region, despite his uneven attempts

The massive demonstrations against the government of Nicolás Maduro in Venezuela throughout February 2014 did not emerge suddenly out of the blue.  Since the death of President Hugo Chávez in March 2013, after which Maduro (his vice president and hand-picked successor) took office, and was then elected outright in April 2014, political tensions have steadily

Presidential elections held on February 2nd in El Salvador and Costa Rica will go to second rounds after the favorites failed to get enough votes to win outright.  Economic inequality, corruption and crime dominated the contests, and tilted the scales to the left. 

In mid January self-defense groups organized by individual communities in the Mexican state of Michoacán clashed, yet again, with the forces of Los Caballeros Templarios, or Knights Templar, drug cartel.  The communities, which have been terrorized for years, have lost faith in the ability (or even inclination) of local, state, and federal government officials to

In mid January Pope Francis tapped 19 bishops to be Cardinals (they will be officially elevated at the next consistory ceremony on February 22, 2014)

In early December 2013 Uruguay became the first country to decriminalize the production and sale of marijuana. 

Honduras held general elections on November 24, 2013 that many observers say reflected the poor state of Honduran democracy since the 2009 coup and ouster of President Manuel Zelaya. 

In Chile’s presidential and legislative election on November 17, 2013 former President Michelle Bachelet, candidate of the left-leaning Nueva Mayoría (New Majority) coalition, took an impressive lead with 47% of the vote,

The Run-Up to the Election Didn’t Look Good for the Government Marcelo Izquierdo broke it down in El Telégrafo of Guayaquil.  The opposition and dissident Peronistas expected a major victory over the governing Frente para la Victoria, FPV, especially given the absence of President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who was recovering from an operation.   

The consensus around the region in early October 2013 was that trouble is brewing in Venezuela.  According to stories in the Venezuelan media, the country was recently turned down by China for a loan.  Also, despite roughly $90 billion a year in oil revenue, Venezuela has trouble importing basic consumer goods.  And