While leftist authoritarians backed by the budding dictator Hugo Chavez are attacking democracy in Bolivia, Ecuador, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, two elections in Honduras and Uruguay underscore that free elections are embraced by people throughout the Americas.
In Honduras, nearly two-thirds of the eligible voters turned out to elect Porfirio “Pepe” Lobo as their new president. The historically high turnout (20 percent greater than elections four years ago) and 57–38 percent margin of victory is expected to put an end to a political crisis that was sparked by the illegal bid by former president Manuel Zelaya to hold on to power. The United States and several Central American governments already have pledged to recognize these elections. However, new leadership at the U.S. State Department and the Honduran president-elect will have to convince Brazil and other nations to accept the legitimacy of the new government, which takes power in January.
Lobo is a businessman of the Nationalist Party who narrowly lost to Zelaya in 2005. He defeated Elvin Santos, of Zelaya’s Liberal Party, who conceded last night. The real losers were those who cast doubt on the democratic process with the intent of undermining the transition and sustaining the costly crisis. Several leftist governments—following Chavez’s lead—have sought to delegitimize the process, and the Organization of American States refused to observe the elections. However, Lobo’s convincing margin, Santos’ recognition of the free and fair balloting, and the overwhelming turnout should be sufficient to convince any serious government that the Honduran people have spoken, and it is time to move on.
In Uruguay, a former leftist revolutionary secured power at the ballot box, having failed in the 1970s to win power through violent struggle. Jose Mujica won a 5-point margin over former President Luis Alberto Lacalle, who recognized the results. The Uruguayan people gave Mujica a vote of confidence to succeed another leftist, Tabare Vazquez, who has governed with moderation, pursued responsible economic policies, and maintained a very positive relationship with the United States.
During the campaign, Mujica said that he “repented,” and he condemned the “stupid ideologies that come from the 1970s.” He rejected statist recipes and anti-Americanism. “Down with ’isms!,” he shouted during the campaign. “I am more than completely cured of simplifications, of dividing the world into good and evil, of thinking in black and white. I have repented!”
It remains to be seen whether Mujica will choose to continue moderate, market-oriented policies favored by his predecessor Vazquez and his model, Brazilian President Luis Inacio “Lula” da Silva. Uruguayan institutions are so strong and centrist that he will have little choice but to pursue a middle-of-the-road course in domestic affairs. However, Chavez will spare no effort to see if he can teach the new dog old tricks.
Too many patronizing outsiders are quick to seize on the notion that Latin Americans are not mature enough for traditional democracy, primarily as an excuse for the transgressions of dictators on the Right or, lately, the Left. For example, Venezuela’s Chavez and Bolivia’s Evo Morales explain that they have to tear down old institutions to usher in a more just political and social order. It is more than transparent that what they are up to is destroying constitutional separations of power and the rule of law with the intention of consolidating power and holding on to it indefinitely.
When Hondurans were forced to decide between Chavismo and democracy they made the right choice. After months of wrongheaded decisions, the international community can do the right thing and choose democracy, too.