NOT the Majority Opinion

Interesting times for Latin America

Twelve presidential elections are due to take place in Latin America between November 2005 and the end of 2006. They include seven of the region's eight most populous countries: Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Peru, Venezuela, Chile and Ecuador. The key issue is whether the recent left-wing trend in the region will continue, and if so, what will be the likely nature of any new left-leaning government.

Will it be of the President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela variety or of the moderate President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil variety? Mr Chavez is a "21st-Century socialist", who is strongly anti-US and anti-private sector (since the beginning of 2005), and enjoys close ties with Cuba and Iran.

Mr Lula, on the other hand, is fiscally cautious and market friendly, pursues macro-economic stability, tries to help the poor within that model, and is a serious negotiator on the world stage. Chile, Argentina and Uruguay are also currently ruled by left-leaning governments of the moderate variety.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4435522.stm