Results suggest Latin leftist movement may have peaked

Results suggest Latin leftist movement may have peaked is an analysis of recent Latin American elections, including Mexico's, by AP writer Mark Stevenson. He concludes his article with these observations about Mexico:

Intolerance, confrontation, messianic attitudes and stridency — once staples of Latin America’s left — are proving less attractive than leaders who can provide stability. The “leftist tide” idea probably oversimplifies by lumping Indian rights movements, radicals and moderates together.

Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador arguably did better than any other leftist candidate ever has in Mexico. But he may have scared voters with vows to change an economic model that has brought stability and low inflation.

“Attacking some of the programs, including some of the economic strategy, was a mistake,” said Ana Maria Salazar, a political analyst. “At least part of the middle class and the lower middle class for the first time in many decades have access to loans to buy things.”

This is one more instance where rising prosperity generates a broad base of economic stakeholders who have something at risk if things go wrong and much to gain if property rights and free markets are respected. That generates more pressure for the rule of law and a more democratic society. If Stevenson is right in his analysis, we may finally be witnessing the rise of a new, freer, more economically sound Mexico. Let us pray it is so.