MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Chilean support for “progressive” regimes in the region

President Michelle Bachelet

Praising democracy and in a clear support of fellow presidents seen as critical of United States, Chile's Michelle Bachelet said that the latest swing of elected governments in Latinamerica can be better described as “progressive” rather than left wing or radical.

"All democratic governments elected in the last period, all of them and I mean a long period, have governments of a "progressive nature", with no other names added, although there are different shades, different ways of addressing challenges", said Bachelet in Quito where she was present at the inauguration ceremony of President Rafael Correa. Bachelet insisted that what is essential is "that they are all freely elected governments, in democratic elections recognized and supported by the Organization of American States with international observers and this is very encouraging for Latinamerica, that we should democratically elect governments". With the inauguration of Correa in Ecuador Latinamerica completes a regional picture with strong presence of left wing administrations: Lula da Silva in Brazil; Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua; Hugo Chavez in Venezuela; Bolivia's Evo Morales; Uruguay's Tabare Vazquez; Alan Garcia in Peru and Michelle Bachelet in Chile. "Democratically elected governments are fully aware from the very first moment that there's no chance of growth and development without fairness and justice", added Ms Bachelet. "It's up to each government, parliament, citizens to agree how to solve challenges which yes are common and shared, which is above all combating poverty". Finally Bachelet said she felt very happy of having participated in the inauguration of President Rafael Correa, "because it's always very significant and moving to be in a democratic celebration following impeccable elections which enabled the Ecuadorian people to decide by a great majority who would be their president in the coming period".