The right has done little more than drive the knife deeper into the wounds inflicted by the left on itself, right where the blood was already flowing. Right-wing politicians have ridden on the back of internal power struggles, contradictions, and mistakes arising from the timid, sometimes corrupt or strategically inept exercise of power. They have also become very adept at exploiting the characteristics of today's voters, victims of intellectual dumbing-down, widespread trivialization, the logic of "punishing for the sake of punishing" or "changing for the sake of changing," and artificial intelligence. But what lessons are emerging for voters who put their faith in these politicians in countries such as Argentina, Chile, and Paraguay—to name just three cases?
Milei
I keep wondering how someone like Milei could ever have made it into the Pink House. Something must be seriously wrong with democracy at some crucial point in the process. Take the scandalous LIBRA cryptocurrency case, for instance. There is no way to defend it, however you look at it. But beyond the corruption, the country's risk premium—a variable Milei should be fighting to bring down, given his focus on macroeconomics—is telling. This indicator has now reached its highest level in more than a year and a half, making it harder for Milei's government, supposedly "specialists in growing the economy with or without money," to attract investment. Uncertainty is growing among investors as they assess the country's economic and political outlook.
Chile
And Kast? Well, not so well. According to a highly reputable polling firm, three out of every four Chileans currently disapprove of his performance, particularly following the revelations surrounding the so-called Rabat case. At the center of the latest debate is the easing of sentences involving 56 individuals convicted of (child) sexual child sexual. But Kast's problems with voters go beyond this issue. He has not even been in office for a year.
Paraguay
These politicians come to power preaching morality and promising they will not plunder the public treasury. Yet experience has exposed their shortcomings remarkably quickly. Starting Monday, Santiago Peña is set to face impeachment proceedings in which he will have to answer serious allegations concerning his alleged ties to Ueno Bank. In addition, prosecutors are after him in connection with three criminal investigations.
Then?
Perhaps the most important lesson is that voting against the left does not necessarily mean voting for a better alternative. Disillusionment, frustration, and a legitimate desire for change can become tools in the hands of those who know how to exploit public discontent but do not necessarily have better answers to the underlying problems. This new (far-right) movement came to power promising order, efficiency, economic growth, and honesty. Yet all too soon, the very same failings it claimed to be fighting are beginning to surface, sometimes in even more brazen forms. This, in turn, does not absolve the left of its mistakes or guarantee it a second chance. On the contrary, it forces left-wing movements to understand why they lost the trust of broad segments of society and to rebuild a credible alternative.
Source for the cover image, generated with GPT technology.