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The PRI defeat in Mexico The end of an epoch
It had to happen. Although to many it seemed the time would never come, the victory of Vicente Fox in the Mexican presidential elections of July 2nd has finally marked a truly historic turning point: the Partido Revolucionario Institucional (PRI – Institutional Revolutionary Party) has lost power for the first time since its foundation, seventy-one…
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The controversial re-election of Fujimori in Peru
The events leading up to the second re-election of President Alberto Fujimori in Peru attracted a great deal of interest, even outside Latin America. Some observers saw this debatable victory of the outgoing president as confirmation of a regression of democracy supposedly afflicting the region. Some of the recent events are in fact quite alarming:…
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Latin America: focus on three countries
Argentina: from Carlos Menem to Fernando de la Rua Fernando de la Rua’s victory in the Argentine presidential elections of October 24th marks the end of ten vears of ‘Menemism’. But what are the reasons for this major political change in Argentina and what overall assessment can be made of Carlos Menem’s two terms in…