Latin American 2021 Electoral Calendar

In 2021 Latin America will have presidential and legislative elections in several of the key countries of the region.

This year 2021 will be an important election year. And it will be so not only for Mexico, but for the entire Latin American region, where a kind of systemic plebiscite will take place, in political and economic matters. All this immersed in a geopolitical reordering on a global scale.

Democracy, as a political system, has delivered poor results to the citizens of the region. Unable to close the gap between rich and poor, it has only aggravated the situation and polarized the region's societies, many of which are on the brink of civil war or in a situation of failed states at the mercy of organized crime.

Capitalism as an economic system has done nothing more than enrich the national oligarchies, without spilling the benefits of the growth of the economies of the region among the poor and increasingly poor Latin Americans.

This occurs when the United States of America, the region's historical leader, finds itself facing “the perfect storm” , plunged into the worst political and economic crisis in its history. This while China's expansionism shows the benefits of its authoritarian and state capitalist political system, presuming notable advances in reducing poverty , improving the environment and as a next step, the expansion of an internal market based on the development of a broad middle class for the next decade.

This is how things are when Latin America begins its plebiscite journey. The route begins on February 7 in Ecuador, where Ecuadorians will elect President of the Republic, taking over from Lenín Moreno, who has held the position since 2017, in the midst of a deep political crisis.

Next on the Latin American electoral route is Peru, which will hold presidential elections on April 11. We continue during the month of June with Mexico and Argentina, on June 6 and October 24, respectively, which will have legislative elections and will test the popular perception of the balance of the federal administrations that currently manage both countries.

Regarding Mexico, it must be added that in addition to the renewal of the federal legislature, there will be elections for 15 governors and congresses of the 32 entities of the federation. Which will open the door for President Andrés Manuel López Obrador, if from succeed in these subnational elections, to undertake a major constitutional reform. It is also worth mentioning that the intention of the Mexican president to include in the June electoral process a plebiscite to clarify the political decisions made by political actors of the recent past, aimed at guaranteeing justice and the rights of possible victims, was not accepted by the electoral authority. Allowing the aforementioned plebiscite to be held on August 1st. However, was allowed to celebrate that referendum approximately two months after the election.

In the case of Chile, we will experience two electoral moments this year 2021. In the first, on April 11, citizens will be called to vote for the members of the constitutional convention that will reform the country's constitution. A constitution inherited from the Augusto Pinochet regime, and which maintains controls in key spaces of the state, such as the congress, the army and the courts of the country. Subsequently, there will be presidential elections on November 21st, in which they will vote for the successor of Sebastián Piñera.

Finally, Haiti, Nicaragua and Honduras will elect their respective presidents of the republic. In a context of social decomposition and economic collapse, product of the pandemic and the closing of the borders to the United States of America.

IN PERSPECTIVE , in this 2021 electoral year, the Latin American region will experience electoral processes in several of the key countries of the region. These elections will occur under the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the deep economic depression that has thrown millions into unemployment and deepening poverty. This will probably produce more radical governments.

What do you think dear reader?

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Article published in February 8th, 2021 at Voces México.