Tag "Andrés Manuel López Obrador"
A New Left Turn in Latin America? COVID-19, Populism and Polarization
The apparent victory of socialist candidate Pedro Castillo in Peru’s general election this year hints at a leftward political trend in Latin America. COVID-19 has played a role in this, but the key driver of the shift is more fundamental. However, looking beyond the left-right paradigm, recent developments are indicative of worsening populism and political polarization in the region.
The Struggle over Mexico’s Energy Sector: What’s At Stake?
Recently, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador stepped up his administration’s efforts to reform the country’s Electricity Industry Law. However, these attempts have received criticism from the private sector and lawmakers. The dispute has the potential to affect Mexico’s relations with regional partners like the USA and Canada and, depending on the outcome of legislative elections in June, may even cause constitutional changes.
What a Biden Presidency Means for Latin America
With his position as President-Elect all but guaranteed, it is important that leaders and policymakers grasp the policies and stances Joe Biden is likely to take on a myriad of issues. This is especially true for leaders in the region closest to the United States, Latin America. Drawing on previous statements and actions by Joe Biden, particularly during his time as Vice-President under President Barack Obama, this article will highlight that Biden is likely to pursue a more positive and co-operative agenda with the region compared to President Donald Trump.
What to expect from López Obrador’s public consultations
Leftist Mexican President Elect Andrés Manuel López Obrador, who takes office in December, recently held a controversial public consultation to cancel Mexico City’s new multibillion-dollar airport. He is organizing another one over the building of a high-speed railway on the Yucatán Peninsula. Opponents accuse him of using consultations to bypass existing rules and institutions and have raised concerns that doing so could lead to a democratic deficit and generate uncertainty for investors over the medium term.
Challenges of Mexico’s drug legalisation
Mexican President-elect Obrador has declared his intention to combat drug cartels with a bold strategy – decriminalization of opium and marijuana. But while this policy may hurt the cartels, it
The end of NAFTA? Perspectives from Mexico, Canada, and the US
24 years ago, on the 1st of January 1994, the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) between Mexico, the United States, and Canada came into force superseding the former Trade Agreement between Canada and the United States.
Mexico’s new president and the risks to democratic institutions
While his detractors claim his economic policies will turn Mexico into “the next Venezuela”, the real risk of his presidency may be his lack of regard for Mexico’s fragile democratic institutions, fewer than 20 years after the end of de facto one-party rule.
Trump isn’t the only factor that could derail NAFTA
Late-2018 presidential elections in Mexico and congressional elections in the United States could jeopardize the future of NAFTA.
Risks abound in Mexico’s new oil laws
Much has been made of the recent announcement that Mexico is seeking to update its oil laws, allowing foreign companies a role in the industry for the first time in
