Page 12 - MIN TTC - MAY 19 , 2015

WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 19 May 2015

Frustration with Latin America’s left seen on the rise

Venezuela’s President Nicolas Maduro is seen on his arrival nearly half since July, ex- Perhaps sensing the trou- one highly dependent on
at Vnukovo airport in Moscow. Whether it’s from corruption acerbating shortages and bles of his closest ally, Cu- copper exports, President
scandal or stagnant growth, the prospects for the crop of leftist the world’s fastest inflation ban President Raul Castro Michelle Bachelet reshuf-
Latin American presidents that have been running the region as the government tight- in December agreed to fled her Cabinet recently
since the start of the millennium appear to be dimming. fists dollars needed to pay talks with the U.S. aimed to stem the fallout from rev-
down debt and import ba- at normalizing relations, elations that her son used
(RIA Novosti Pool Photo via AP) sic goods. a move expected to fuel his influence to secure a
Maduro’s approval ratings growth in the communist- favorable loan. It’s one
have tumbled to 28 per- run economy. Currently, of the scandals that have
cent, near the lowest in 16 Venezuela provides Cuba prompted widespread out-
years of socialist rule, and with the bulk of the oil it rage at the sway of money
while there’s no sign the consumes at subsidized over politics, both for her
sometimes violent street prices. Socialist Party and the op-
protests that overwhelmed A string of headline-grab- position. When Bachelet,
the country a year ago will bing corruption scandals who served as president
return anytime soon, polls are also exposing the ethi- previously, left office for
indicate that the opposi- cal breaches that befall the first time in 2010 she en-
tion will coast to victory many parties after more joyed a whopping 84 per-
in legislative elections ex- than a decade in power. cent approval rating.
pected to take place by In Chile, the region’s best-
year end. managed economy but Continued on Page 27

JOSHUA GOODMAN into power just as China’s
Associated Press economy was soaring and
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) with it demand for South
— Venezuela’s socialist America’s abundant nat-
government is struggling ural resources. Now that
to put food on the shelves the world’s second-largest
amid runaway inflation. economy is cooling, the
Brazil’s president is facing commodities boom that
calls for impeachment. allowed governments to
And even Cuba’s commu- spread the wealth and
nist government, an iconic endear themselves to the
touchstone for generations poor is ending.
of leftists, is embracing clos- “It’s not easy to govern in
er ties with the U.S. Latin America right now,”
Whether it’s because of said Raul L. Madrid, co-edi-
corruption scandals or stag- tor of a 2010 book on leftist
nant growth, the popularity governments in the region.
of the crop of leftist Latin “Many of these govern-
American governments ments rode frustration with
that have been running high levels of inequality
the region since the start and corruption to power.
of the millennium appears But you can’t rail against
to be waning. Voters who the establishment as ef-
embraced what became fectively as you once did
known as the pink tide that when you are the establish-
swept away the pro-Wash- ment at this point.”
ington, free-market policies No leader has been harder
dominant in the 1990s are hit than Venezuelan Presi-
increasingly turning against dent Nicolas Maduro.
the populist firebrands they When his mentor, the late
once rallied behind. Hugo Chavez, took power
Across the region, polling in 1999, the international
numbers are tanking and price of oil — which funds
street protests are on the the bulk of spending in the
rise. oil-rich nation — was under
Triggering the growing dis- $10 a barrel, and its rise to
enchantment are some $100 created a boom that
serious economic head- lasted several years. But
winds. Most leaders came prices have plunged by