This week, the leaders of CELAC, comprising the states of the Western Hemisphere excluding the U.S. and Canada, will meet with their EU counterparts in Brussels to discuss the two regions’ relationship. Early indications suggest that differences over Ukraine could potentially hinder progress on other important topics at the summit.
The U.S. holds leverage in efforts to ensure that Venezuela’s presidential election next year free and fair enough to advance a democratic transition. But due to a trust deficit, governments that are in a better position to prod Caracas into permitting a credible election must work to complement Washington’s efforts.
Last week, Brazil’s electoral court ruled that former President Jair Bolsonaro cannot run for public office for the next eight years. While there are many reasons to support Brazil’s ban on Bolsonaro, it is necessary to explain why his case differs from other countries in the region where the same practice is used to erode democracy.