The political landscape of Latin America is shifting, and the tremors are being felt from the highlands of Bolivia to the bustling streets of São Paulo. Recent months have seen the region’s far right gaining ground in elections, even as leftist governments struggle to maintain their footing. Yet, beneath the headlines, a more complex picture is emerging—one marked by ideological battles, economic upheaval, and a populace yearning for stability after decades of turbulence.
In Bolivia, the winds of change blew forcefully on November 8, 2025, as Rodrigo Paz Pereira was sworn in as president. In a symbolic gesture, Paz took his oath with a hand on the Bible, a tradition largely abandoned since Bolivia declared itself a secular state in 2009, according to Reuters. This act, witnessed by leaders from Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Ecuador, and over 50 international delegations, marked a clear break from the socialist policies that had dominated Bolivian politics for nearly twenty years.
Paz’s administration wasted no time signaling a new direction. The iconic clock atop Bolivia’s congressional building, which had been altered eleven years ago to run counterclockwise as a nod to anti-colonialist sentiment, was restored to its conventional operation. As reported by Reuters, this reversal was more than cosmetic—it was a declaration that Bolivia was, in Paz’s words, “reopening to the world after years of isolation.”
The most immediate effects of Paz’s pro-business approach have been felt on the streets. Long lines at petrol stations, a frustrating feature of daily life in recent years, have largely disappeared. The boliviano has surged in unofficial markets, and bond investors are viewing Bolivia’s creditworthiness with renewed optimism. While the government’s plans to unify the exchange rate and attract foreign investment are still taking shape, the mood among many Bolivians is cautiously hopeful. “We have to be patient and wait for the changes we need,” said Sara Padilla, a car battery vendor in La Paz, to Reuters. “We’ve already gone through tough times with food shortages and rising prices. It won’t be easy, but it’s not impossible.”
Of course, optimism is tempered by the enormity of the challenges facing Bolivia. Seven out of ten Bolivians live in poverty or are vulnerable to falling into it, and the country’s public finances are strained by costly fuel subsidies and declining gas production. Paz has promised that subsidy cuts will be gradual and paired with protections for the most vulnerable. Claudia Pacheco, an economist at the Catholic University in Santa Cruz, emphasized the scale of the task: “People must be patient, because fixing an economic collapse of such magnitude and 20 years of mismanagement can’t be done in a year, it can’t be done in just a few months.”
Bolivia’s pivot toward the United States is perhaps the most dramatic foreign policy shift. During the years of the Movement Toward Socialism (MAS) government, Bolivia allied itself with China, Russia, Iran, Venezuela, and Cuba, and expelled the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in 2008. Now, as Reuters notes, the US and Bolivia have announced accords on nuclear cooperation, investment, and security, paving the way for the DEA’s return. This move has stirred unease among rural coca farmers loyal to former president Evo Morales, highlighting the delicate balancing act Paz must perform as he seeks to modernize the economy without alienating key constituencies.
Bolivia’s transformation is not occurring in isolation. Across Latin America, the far right is making significant electoral gains, riding a wave of discontent with the status quo. In Chile, the first round of the presidential election saw Jeannette Jara of the Communist Party claim the top spot with 26.85% of the vote, but the far right’s José Antonio Kast was close behind at 23.92%. Johannes Kaiser, running even further to the right, garnered 14%. With the second round set for December 14, 2025, and centrist candidates likely to throw their support behind Kast, the presidency could soon be in the hands of a politician whose family history and views on Chile’s dictatorship have sparked controversy, according to People’s Democracy.
Elsewhere, the far right’s momentum is unmistakable. In Peru, the April 2026 election is expected to favor Rafael López Aliaga, an ultra-conservative Catholic who advocates harsh security measures and libertarian economic reforms. Colombia will follow in May, with Iván Cepeda representing the left but facing stiff resistance from entrenched oligarchic interests. Even in Brazil, where Jair Bolsonaro languishes in prison for his role in the failed coup of January 8, 2023, his Liberal Party (PL) remains the largest bloc in Congress. President Lula da Silva is favored for re-election, but the PL’s growing influence in the Senate is already constraining his administration’s agenda, including its tepid response at COP30 to the climate crisis, as highlighted by People’s Democracy.
What unites these “Angry Tide” politicians, as People’s Democracy dubs them, is a shared agenda rooted in anti-communism, libertarian economic policies, and culture wars. Many, like Kast, Paz, and Argentina’s Javier Milei, came of age in the aftermath of Latin America’s military dictatorships. Their politics are shaped by the economic stagnation of the 1980s and 1990s, the so-called “Lost Decade,” and a deep skepticism of state-led development. Influenced by the “Chicago Boys” and the Austrian School of economics, they champion deregulation, privatization, and a diminished role for the state.
The culture wars have proven particularly potent. Far right leaders have capitalized on fears about gender ideology, migration, and rising crime, appealing to conservative evangelical Christians and disaffected working-class voters. The October 28, 2025, police operation in Rio de Janeiro, which left at least 121 dead, underscores the willingness of some right-wing governments to use force in the name of security, as reported by People’s Democracy. At the same time, conspiracy theories about “globalized” elites and threats to national culture have become rallying cries for these movements, even as they invite foreign investment and embrace US corporations.
Yet, the far right’s rise is not without resistance. In late October 2025, most countries at the UN General Assembly voted to demand an end to the blockade on Cuba, a symbolic victory for the region’s left. And while the left remains divided—uncertain whether to ally with centrists or rebuild grassroots power—there are voices urging boldness and renewal. Former Bolivian vice president Álvaro García Linera, reflecting on the election of Zohran Mamdani as New York City mayor, remarked, “Mamdani’s victory shows that the left must commit to boldness and a new future.”
As Latin America stands at this crossroads, the coming months will reveal whether the Angry Tide continues to surge or if new currents will emerge to challenge its momentum. For now, the region is watching, waiting, and hoping for leaders who can deliver on promises of stability and progress without sacrificing the hard-won gains of the past.
