For the Latin American left, the year is crucial as in all three left regimes, the ruling presidents are suffering from anti- incumbency though all the three presidents took enough progressive measures in the their tenure. The incumbent presidents are also facing troubles in the ruling coalition. All these factors have emboldened the right wing conservative forces in all the three countries.

The first to go to presidential polls is Ecuador. In the last elections, the Left candidate Luisa Conzalez lost to the conservative candidate Daniel Noboa defying the opinion poll predictions Gonzalez is the candidate again and the Left is making all efforts to get back power in this economically strong country. The elections for the first round will be held on February 9. If no one gets majority, the second round will be held on April 13.

On August 17, presidential elections will be held in Bolivia. Luis Arce of the Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) is the president. He is at factional war with the former president Evo Morales on the issue of becoming candidate for the 2025 presidency. Morales was firm in standing and the MAS is virtually split. But the recent court judgment has barred Morales from contesting. If the order remains valid, Morales will not contest and that will leave Arce to contest from the MAS without any official opposition from Morales. But the scenario is still confused as Morales supporters are firmly opposed to Luis Arce. It will take a few more days to see whether finally there is some understanding between the rival groups about the stand on the presidential candidate.

Chile is going for presidential elections on November 16 this year. Gabriel Boric, a known Marxist is the President. He is enjoying his first term. But the Constitution does not allow him to contest for the second term. In the 2023 referendum for constitutional changes, Boric’s coalition was defeated. So the old 1980 constitution remains and the left coalition will have to nominate a new candidate. This might be a big problem for the present coalition.

The Republican Party contender Antonio Kast is the Presidential nominee of the Right. He contested last time also. Latest opinion polls give Kast top position. Boric’s acceptability has fallen compared to 2023. The Left coalition is making efforts to unite its constituents and implement the government programmes more effectively. But as of now.the conservative rival of Boric, Kast is confident about his success. Boric and his coalition will have a tough task in retaining power in November elections.

In Honduras, the elections to the President’s position and to Parliament will be held on November 26. Presently Xiomara Castro is the left wing president. She has been under severe pressure from the US business interests for giving the companies concessions which she has been refusing. Castro is very vocal against the US administration alleging that the Americans are trying to overthrow her just as they ousted her husband from power in 2009. The atmosphere is very tense. The anti-Left forces are organised in Honduras. It now depends on the leadership of Castro to lead the economy and the polity of the small country along right lines to secure confidence of the electorate.

For the Latin American Left, the fierce battle in MAS between Bolivian president Luis Arce and former president Evo Morales has caused deep concern. The Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) Party, the party of both presidents, has split into two warring factions. Arce served for 12 years under Morales as minister of the economy and finances. Morales served three presidential terms, from 2006 to 2019. He had led a federation of unionized coca growers, was Bolivia’s first indigenous president, and had been president of MAS since 1998.

In late 2019, Morales, having won the first round in presidential voting, was heading for a fourth term. Then came a U.S.-assisted coup; he was deposed and went into exile. The responsible parties were big landowners, oil and natural gas empresarios, and assorted racists in Santa Cruz and other eastern departments. Jeanine Áñez became provisional president, but she’s now in prison for her role in the coup.

From exile, Morales endorsed Luis Arce as the MAS candidate in presidential elections in 2020. He scored a 55% plurality. Morales returned to Bolivia shortly after, and that’s when signs of division began to emerge between Morales and Arce.

At a MAS Party Congress in October 2023, delegates expelled Arce from the party and endorsed Morales as a presidential candidate for the upcoming elections. The Constitutional Court, however, ruled in December 2023 that Morales may not serve another presidential term.

In May 2024, another MAS Congress took place, with a different set of delegates. It backed Arce as the presidential candidate and named Grover García, government office-holder and former union leader, as president of the MAS Party to replace Morales. The confrontation between president and former president is continuing. It is certainly going to impact the coming Presidential elections unless any truce takes place. (IPA Service)