The 10 most powerful left-wing politicians in Latin America today
Here we show you the 10 most powerful left-wing politicians in Latin America today.
Latin America is experiencing a new wave of left-wing governments, which differs from the «pink tide» that emerged two decades ago in several respects.
Here are some of the progressive leaders who have risen to power in recent years or are likely to do so in the near future:
The 10 most powerful left-wing politicians in Latin America today
Alberto Fernandez (Argentina):
He won the 2019 elections with the support of former president Cristina Fernández de Kirchner, who is his vice president. Her government has faced the covid-19 pandemic, the economic and social crisis, and the renegotiation of the foreign debt. He has promoted measures such as the legalization of abortion, the tax on large fortunes and the expansion of social rights.
Luis Arce (Bolivia):
He was the Minister of Economy of former President Evo Morales, who chose him as his candidate for the 2020 elections after the coup that overthrew him in 2019. Arce won with 55% of the vote and reestablished the power of the Movement for Socialism ( FURTHER). His government has prioritized economic reactivation, vaccination against covid-19 and national reconciliation.
Andrés Manuel López Obrador (Mexico):
He reached the presidency in 2018 after two failed attempts, with a large majority that gave him control of Congress. His project is based on the «fourth transformation» of the country, which seeks to combat corruption, poverty and violence. He has faced criticism for his handling of the pandemic, public safety and relations with the United States.
Pedro Castillo (Peru):
He surprised the world by winning the 2021 elections as a candidate for the Marxist-Leninist-leaning Peru Libre party. He is a rural teacher and union leader who became known for leading a teachers’ strike in 2017. His proposal includes a new constitution, land reform, and greater state involvement in the economy. He has moderated his speech after his triumph and has sought to build bridges with other political and social sectors.
Xiomara Castro (Honduras):
She is the wife of former President Manuel Zelaya, who was deposed by a coup in 2009. She was a presidential candidate in 2013 and came in second. She ran again in 2021 for the left-wing Libertad y Refoundación (Libre) party, and won with 53% of the vote. Her proposal includes a constituent assembly, an electoral reform and a fight against corruption and impunity.
Gabriel Boric (Chile):
He is a lawyer and activist who was one of the leaders of the student movement that shook the country in 2011. He was a deputy for the Broad Front, a coalition of left-wing and progressive parties and movements. He won the presidential primary for his sector in 2021 and then prevailed in the general election with 56% of the vote. His program includes a new Constitution, a tax reform and a social and environmental agenda.
Gustavo Petro (Colombia):
He is a former M-19 guerrilla who demobilized in 1990 and dedicated himself to politics. He was a senator, mayor of Bogotá and a presidential candidate in 2018, when he came in second. He ran again in 2022 for the left-wing Colombia Humana-Unión Patriotica coalition, and won with 50.3% of the vote. His proposal includes an energy transition, an agrarian reform and a peace with social justice.
Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (Brazil):
He was president of Brazil between 2003 and 2010, with a high popularity and international recognition. His government was characterized by promoting social policies that lifted millions of people out of poverty, as well as by strengthening Brazil’s role in the world. He was convicted of corruption and imprisoned in 2018, which prevented him from participating in that year’s elections. In 2021, the Supreme Court annulled his sentences and recovered his political rights. He is the favorite for the 2022 elections, according to the polls.
Daniel Martinez (Uruguay):
He is an engineer and politician who was mayor of Montevideo between 2015 and 2019. He was a presidential candidate for the Frente Amplio, a left-wing coalition that governed the country between 2005 and 2020. He lost the 2019 elections by a narrow margin to the candidate of the right, Luis Lacalle Pou. He ran again in 2024 and won with 51% of the vote. His proposal includes an economic reactivation, an educational reform and a human rights and diversity agenda.
Nicolas Maduro (Venezuela):
He is the successor of the late President Hugo Chávez, who designated him as his political heir in 2013. Since then, he has governed the country in the midst of a deep economic, social and political crisis, which has caused the exodus of millions of Venezuelans. He has faced international sanctions, mass protests and an attempted coup led by opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who proclaimed himself interim president with the support of more than 50 countries. Maduro has remained in power with the backing of the armed forces, Russia, China and Cuba. His current term ends in 2025.
These are just a few examples of today’s Latin American leftist leaders. There are others who could also be mentioned, such as the Cuban Miguel Díaz-Canel or the Nicaraguan Daniel Ortega. The truth is that Latin America is undergoing a political change that will have consequences for its future.
You can also see:
Diego Ruzzarin and other philosophical peddlers worse than Carlos Muñoz