Latin American elections will change political landscape (good news) [View All]

http://www.realcities.com/mld/krwashington/news/world/13304634.htm
Posted on Thu, Dec. 01, 2005



By Jack Chang

Knight Ridder Newspapers

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil - A wave of presidential elections over the next year in Latin America promises to reshape a region that's seen modest economic growth in recent years but soaring opposition to U.S. influence.

Polls show that leftist candidates who are critical of U.S. policies have good chances to win presidencies in Bolivia and Mexico. Voters also are poised to elect female presidents in Chile and Peru, which would be a first in both countries.

Observers are predicting hard-fought campaigns in which the role of U.S.-supported economic policies will be center stage.

"There's a polarization within the region in terms of what the development model should be," said Andres Rozental, the president of the Mexican Council on Foreign Relations, a research center. "There is serious questioning of the Washington consensus, and in many elections there is a higher probability of victory for candidates of the more populist left.".......