The Americas | Bello

Despite the polls, a centrist could win Colombia’s election in May

Undecided voters may shun Gustavo Petro, a populist of the left

SEVERAL RECENT elections in Latin America have seen the collapse, or at least the defeat, of the moderate centre. It was true of Chile’s presidential election last month, of Peru’s earlier this year and of those in Brazil and Colombia in 2018. Will it be true of the next big election in the region, in Colombia in May? There are reasons to think that, in this case, a victory for the centre would not just be especially beneficial, but also that it might come about.

This article appeared in the The Americas section of the print edition under the headline “Between hope and experience”

What would America fight for?

From the December 11th 2021 edition

Discover stories from this section and more in the list of contents

Explore the edition

More from The Americas

Heavy machinery and sidewinders move logs near Sayward, British Columbia, Canada.

Canada and America have been fighting about timber for 40 years

As Donald Trump takes office, the chances of a lumber deal look slim

Canada Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announces his resignation.

Justin Trudeau steps down, leaving a wrecked party and a divided Canada

Mark Carney and Chrystia Freeland are among those tipped as the next Liberal leader


A collage illustration showing a cutout of XI Jinping’s facing Donald Trump’s face on the right with a small cutout image of Claudia Sheinbaum between them. Behind them are some shipping containers and the The San Lázaro Legislative Palace of Mexico

Does made in Mexico mean made by China?

Donald Trump believes Mexico is a trojan horse for Chinese mercantilism


Failure to prepare for climate change is costing Honduras dear

Weeks after the most recent storm, the country is still in emergency mode

Venezuela’s Nicolás Maduro looks set to take the throne

Relying on a fabricated election victory, the incumbent will be sworn in again

Why Spanish firms have cooled towards Latin America

Slow growth and messy politics are largely to blame