Dr. Sodfa Mohamed Mahmoud‏‏

Since February 2025, right-wing candidates have won presidential elections across seven Latin American countries— Bolivia, Chile, Ecuador, Honduras, Costa Rica, Colombia, and Peru. With the exception of Ecuador, where incumbent President Daniel Noboa secured re-election, this marked a rapid and widespread political shift from the left to the right. The 2026 electoral victories of Keiko Fujimori in Peru and Abelardo de la Espriella in Colombia are the latest evidence of the growing momentum of the political right aligned with U.S. President Donald Trump.Key TrendsThe results of the recent presidential elections highlight several broader trends across Latin America, including the following:1. Right-Wing Resurgence Following the "Pink Tide": Since 2023, right-wing and far-right movements have steadily expanded their political influence across Latin America and now hold the presidency in <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">12 countries</a>: Argentina, the Dominican Republic, Bolivia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, El Salvador, Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Chile, Colombia, and Peru. This marks a sharp departure from the earlier regional trend known as the "pink tide," during which left-wing governments dominated much of Latin America from the early 2000s onward.Despite this rightward shift, the left remains in power in several countries, including Brazil and Mexico—the region's two largest economies, which together account for more than half of Latin America's GDP—as well as Guatemala, Uruguay, Cuba, Nicaragua, and Guyana.2. Growing Public Disillusionment with Left-Wing Governments: The election results reflect widespread public <a href="https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/right-sweeps-latin-america-with-new-victory-in-colombia.phtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">frustration</a> with left-wing administrations that have struggled to address economic stagnation, rising crime, and persistent corruption. As traditional centrist parties have continued to lose influence and public dissatisfaction has grown following years of alternating rule by the moderate left and right, <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">anti-establishment</a> rhetoric has gained increasing traction.With the left's popularity declining, the populist and far right has emerged as the political force most capable of mobilizing disillusioned voters through simple, unconventional messaging. Right-wing parties have also succeeded in broadening their support base by attracting new constituencies, including Evangelical Christians and <a href="https://www.kas.de/en/web/auslandsinformationen/artikel/detail/-/content/latin-america-s-party-landscape-shifts-to-the-right" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">younger voters</a>.3. The Emergence of Diverse Right-Wing Political Currents: Latin America's contemporary right is far from monolithic, <a href="https://www.kas.de/en/web/auslandsinformationen/artikel/detail/-/content/latin-america-s-party-landscape-shifts-to-the-right" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">encompassing</a> both moderate conservatives and more hardline populists. Leaders such as Javier Milei in Argentina and Nayib Bukele in El Salvador embody the rise of right-wing populism, while more moderate conservatives—including Luis Abinader in the Dominican Republic and Santiago Pena in Paraguay—have emphasized stability and pragmatic governance. Their success suggests that the region's shift to the right reflects not only voter frustration but also a growing demand for predictable leadership.Unlike the right-wing governments that came to power during the first two decades of the twenty-first century—which generally embraced economic <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">liberalism</a>, free markets, and democratic governance, while paying relatively little attention to feminism, abortion, or LGBTQ+ rights—the new right is generally less economically liberal. An important exception is Milei, whose agenda strongly favors free-market policies and a reduced role for the state. Several emerging right-wing movements have instead placed increasing emphasis on cultural issues, adopting confrontational positions toward feminist movements, newer rights-based agendas, and minority issues.4. Security and Organized Crime as Defining Electoral Issues: Public <a href="https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/right-sweeps-latin-america-with-new-victory-in-colombia.phtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">security</a>, rising crime, and violence have dominated the region's electoral campaigns because of their direct impact on people’s daily lives. According to a recent Latinobarómetro survey, 75 percent of respondents across approximately 12 Latin American countries said crime had increased during 2025, while roughly one-third reported that they or a family member had been directly affected by crime.By campaigning on promises to restore law and <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">order</a> and adopt zero-tolerance approaches toward crime, right-wing candidates have successfully appealed to voters across one of the world's most violent regions, where the average homicide rate stands at 17.6 per 100,000 inhabitants. <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2026/06/23/from-bolsonaro-and-bukele-to-fujimori-and-de-la-espriella-trump-and-latin-americas-rightwa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bukele's</a> approach in El Salvador has become particularly influential throughout Latin America because of his hardline campaign against criminal gangs. Several right-wing candidates in other countries in the region have either modeled their security platforms on Bukele's policies or pledged to adopt similar measures if elected.5. Deepening Political Polarization Across Latin America: The election results also underscore the deep political <a href="https://apnews.com/article/elections-latin-america-argentina-colombia-ecuador-fc5e0224b70c578faaf5c56d2d2a1d82" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">polarization</a> throughout the region. In some countries, right-wing candidates secured decisive victories over their left-wing rivals. In Costa Rica, Laura Fernández won the February 2026 presidential election by a margin of 15 percentage points, while José Antonio Kast secured Chile's presidency in December 2025 with 58 percent of the vote.However, in other countries the margins were exceptionally close, highlighting increasingly divided electorates. &nbsp;In Colombia, de la Espriella defeated left-wing Senator Iván Cepeda by only <a href="https://www.euronews.com/2026/06/23/from-bolsonaro-and-bukele-to-fujimori-and-de-la-espriella-trump-and-latin-americas-rightwa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">200,000 votes</a>, while in Peru, Fujimori prevailed over left-wing candidate Roberto Sánchez by a <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">margin</a> of approximately 40,000 votes. These outcomes underscore the growing intensity of political divisions across the region.6. Declining Voter Emphasis on Democratic Norms and Political Freedoms: The recent elections suggest that concerns about democratic governance and political freedoms have become less decisive for some voters, many of whom have shown increasing support for candidates with more <a href="https://english.elpais.com/international/2026-06-23/colombia-joins-the-rise-of-the-far-right-in-latin-america.html" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">hardline</a> political agendas.Although some criticized de la Espriella over his confrontational rhetoric and alleged ties to far-right armed groups, this did not prevent him from being elected as Colombia's president. Likewise, Keiko Fujimori won elections in Peru despite her embrace of the political legacy of her father Alberto Fujimori, who was in power during the 1990s and has long been criticized on both political and human rights grounds.Similarly, Kast's support for Augusto Pinochet did not prevent him from winning Chile's presidency, while Milei's proposals for sweeping reductions in public spending did not hinder his victory in Argentina. Likewise, Brazilian presidential candidate Flávio Bolsonaro continues to defend the legacy of his father, despite the latter's imprisonment on charges related to an alleged coup attempt against Brazil's elected government.7. Resilience of Incumbents Despite Regional Political Shifts: Despite the broader political realignment that has unfolded across Latin America since 2023, several countries have demonstrated notable <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/latin-america-why-are-voters-turning-to-the-right/a-77711864" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">continuity</a> in political leadership, with governing parties on both the right and the left retaining power.&nbsp;Incumbent presidents or candidates representing ruling parties were reelected or succeeded by their parties' nominees in Paraguay, Mexico, the Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Ecuador, and Costa Rica.These outcomes suggest that Latin American voters continue to base their electoral choices primarily on their governments' ability to address the fundamental challenges facing their countries. Ultimately, the perceived performance of incumbent administrations remains the decisive factor in determining whether voters choose to return a president—or the ruling party's candidate—to office.Looking AheadThe recent electoral outcomes across Latin America are likely to have several important implications for the future, including the following:1. Durability of Right-Wing Governments Depends on Delivering on Electoral Promises: Recent political developments do not necessarily point to a permanent or structural <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/latin-america-why-are-voters-turning-to-the-right/a-77711864" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">shift</a> to the right. Instead, these changes reflect voters' growing preference for candidates outside the traditional political establishment. Whether the current rightward trend endures will largely depend on the ability of newly elected leaders to fulfill their campaign promises. Given the diversity of the electorate and the public's demand for rapid, tangible solutions to pressing national challenges, the current momentum could quickly reverse if those expectations go unmet.In <a href="https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/right-sweeps-latin-america-with-new-victory-in-colombia.phtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Bolivia</a>, for example, President Rodrigo Paz has faced large-scale protests over austerity measures and rising living costs. Likewise, Kast's approval ratings declined during his first 100 days in office in Chile amid rising prices. In Colombia, de la Espriella is expected to encounter significant <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/how-latin-america-became-more-trump-aligned-than-ever-0c2a1910?msockid=2706ebf4c5606e2b337dfcdbc4c26f68" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">obstacles</a> in implementing plans to reduce the number of government ministries, shrink the public sector, and build large-scale prisons, particularly given his limited support in Congress.2. Closer Alignment Between Latin American Governments and the Trump Administration: Right-leaning governments in Latin America are likely to have closer ties with the current U.S. administration, particularly in light of Donald Trump's explicit <a href="https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/right-sweeps-latin-america-with-new-victory-in-colombia.phtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">support</a> for several right-wing presidential candidates and his repeated warnings that U.S. assistance could be curtailed should left-wing candidates prevail.Ahead of Argentina's parliamentary elections, Trump provided <a href="https://www.dw.com/en/latin-america-why-are-voters-turning-to-the-right/a-77711864" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">billions</a> of dollars in financial assistance to the country and openly supported the Bolsonaro family in Brazil. With an unprecedented <a href="https://www.wsj.com/world/americas/how-latin-america-became-more-trump-aligned-than-ever-0c2a1910?msockid=2706ebf4c5606e2b337dfcdbc4c26f68" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">network</a> of like-minded partners across Latin America willing to cooperate with Washington on security, intelligence, and economic issues, U.S. influence in the region is likely to expand further.At the same time, Trump's endorsement has not consistently translated into electoral success for his preferred candidates and has in some instances produced the opposite effect. In <a href="https://www.batimes.com.ar/news/latin-america/right-sweeps-latin-america-with-new-victory-in-colombia.phtml" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Brazil</a>, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's polling numbers improved after Trump threatened to impose tariffs on Brazilian exports while attempting to bolster support for Bolsonaro.3. Intensifying U.S.-China Strategic Competition in Latin America: The U.S. National Security Strategy released in November 2025 reflected what has been described as the "<a href="https://www.euronews.com/2026/06/23/from-bolsonaro-and-bukele-to-fujimori-and-de-la-espriella-trump-and-latin-americas-rightwa" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Donroe Doctrine</a>," that is, Washington's intention to reinforce U.S. influence across the Western Hemisphere in ways that would make it more difficult for external competitors like China to expand their regional presence.Nevertheless, increased U.S. engagement has also placed some of Trump's strongest regional allies in politically sensitive positions. This has been the case for Chile’s Kast, who had pledged to strengthen his country’s ties with the Trump administration before taking office. After assuming the presidency in March 2026,&nbsp;Kast sought to strike a careful balance by maintaining close diplomatic relations with Washington while preserving Chile's robust trade ties with China. He argued that it was only logical for Chile to maintain "the best possible relations with both China and the United States."4. Weaker Regional Multilateral Institutions: The political influence of regional organizations and forums, including the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States (CELAC), could gradually <a href="https://agenciabrasil.ebc.com.br/en/internacional/noticia/2026-06/brazil-aims-pragmatism-after-right-wing-victories-latin-america" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">decline</a>.Electing leaders who are more closely aligned with U.S. policy could make it more difficult to advance regional initiatives that diverge from the stances of the Trump administration. As a result, the future effectiveness of regional organizations is likely to depend increasingly on the ideological alignment of their member governments.Even so, some left-leaning governments—most notably Brazil—continue to strengthen bilateral ties with neighboring countries by focusing on pragmatic areas of cooperation, including infrastructure, energy, combating organized crime, and disaster response. In this context, the presidents of Chile and Brazil met on June 30, 2026, agreeing to deepen bilateral cooperation across multiple sectors.5. Environmental Concerns Over the Future of the Amazon Rainforest: Environmental advocates across Latin America have expressed growing concern that the electoral success of right-wing leaders could threaten the future of the <a href="https://www.usnews.com/news/world/articles/2026-06-24/colombias-vote-may-reshape-the-amazons-future-as-political-winds-shift-across-latin-america" rel="noopener noreferrer" target="_blank">Amazon rainforest</a>, amid fears that some governments might prioritize economic growth and extractive industries over environmental protection.In Colombia, de la Espriella has pledged to revive the country's oil sector and defended expanding the exploitation of Colombia's natural resources as a means of stimulating economic growth.Similarly, Fujimori has voiced support for mining activity as a key driver of Peru's economic development. Attention is also turning to upcoming elections in Brazil, which is home to roughly 60 percent of the Amazon rainforest. Deforestation rose sharply in Brazil during Jair Bolsonaro's presidency, followed by a notable decline under Lula, whose administration strengthened environmental enforcement measures.ConclusionThese developments suggest that Latin America has experienced a significant shift toward the political right in recent years, creating opportunities for a diverse range of right-wing movements to reshape the region's political landscape.Whether this new generation of right-wing governments succeeds in improving people’s lives—or ultimately proves to be just another phase in Latin America's recurring cycle of political change—depends on these governments’ ability to address key economic, security, and governance challenges that their countries face.

Why Is the Right Dominating Recent Elections in Latin America?