The New Right redraws Latin America’s map
Latin America has become fertile ground for outsiders who know how to turn resentment into votes. Leer más
The landscape of Latin American politics has been dramatically reshaped by a new breed of right-wing leaders who invoke religion, promote order, and align themselves with the United States. Around a dozen countries in the region, from Colombia to Peru, are now governed by variations of this new right-wing ideology. Abelardo de la Espriella, a Colombian candidate, rode a tough-on-crime platform and was compared to El Salvador’s Nayib Bukele, who was re-elected by pushing constitutional limits.
De la Espriella likened himself to Cyrus the Great, promising protection and a return to traditional values. This new right has emerged as a disruptive force, with presidential candidates like Argentina's Javier Milei and Bukele styled as "lions" and invoking holy scripture to justify their economic policies. They share a common thread of bullying tactics, submission to US President Donald Trump, and a desire to align the region with Washington's interests.
The shift is also marked by a rise in misogyny and anti-feminism, with influencers and politicians using resentment as electoral fuel. Latin America is navigating a turbulent period, with US military intervention in Venezuela exposing deep fractures and a return to gender hierarchies. The new right sets itself apart from traditional conservatism by dehumanising opposition, courted institutional chaos, and rejects liberal democracy boundaries.
They utilize economic debates as a front while engaging in punitive populism and redefining symbols and memory. The challenge ahead is immense, but history is built upon acts of resistance.
Written by urgent.news from Buenos Aires Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
