I let out a big sigh at this one when it was announced in my Foreign Governments class. My professor showed us a map of Central and South America, depicting countries that had an election this year and whether they had a left leaning or right leaning governments. I only saw four right leaning governments - Mexico, Honduras, Costa Rica and Colombia.
Chavez is having way to big of an influence...
Chavez isn't the reason for this. Most countries are electing left wing governments in spite of him, not because of him. He sure didn't help in Peru.
I'm not saying he is the only reason why these countries are electing left wing governments but I believe he is energizing Central and South Americans.
Also people like Batchelet, De Silva, that Peruvian guy whose name I can't remember, and the new left-wing government in Uruguay really are antithetical to Hugo Chavez and have actively fought with him and his croneys either through elections or through trade agreements. Kirchner has been more accomodating of Chavez and his "Bolivarian" revolution but even he is walking a fine line between Chavez and American interests.
