Freedom in the world experienced a setback in 2015 and, while improvements were recorded in Latin America, democracy in Central America and Venezuela faces serious risks, according to the Freedom House annual report released today.
The organization of defense of freedom and democracy indicated that one of the most significant events this year has been the risk they face El Salvador, Guatemala and Honduras, and Venezuela, which highlights the "persecution" of opposition.
The report "Freedom in the World" indicates that criminal gangs, the "systematic political violence and corruption are a growing risk of freedom and democracy" in these countries.
El Salvador, for example, is identified as one of the world's countries with a greater decline in freedoms and democracy in 2015, although the final note to the Central American nation is "free" compared to the classifications of "partly free "or" not free ".
In Guatemala, despite protests against corruption that ended the mandate of former President Otto Perez, the report notes concerns about the relationship of the party of the new president (National Convergence Front Nation-FCN), Jimmy Morales, with the military.
Honduras, meanwhile, is the worst note received from the Central American countries, with 45 of a maximum of 100 would correspond to a nation in which all civil liberties and free political activity are respected.
"In Nicaragua, unlike other countries, the main threat to democracy is the political and institutional dominance of the Sandinista party," says the report.
The Latin American country with the worst score in freedom and democracy is Venezuela, considered "partly free" and with a score of 35, closely followed by Haiti (41) and Honduras (45).
According to the report, "the government of President (Venezuela), Nicolas Maduro, has responded with more repression and persecution of opposition leaders, while gagging the media."
However, he noted that the Venezuelan case and the electoral victory of the opposition in the legislative elections is a "notice to poor management authoritarian" and an example of the "potential for elections to correct the course."
Similarly, Freedom House echoes the victory of President Mauricio Macri in Argentina and states that, along with what happened in Venezuela, said "the beginning of a reversal of populist movements in America."
The report found an increase in the number of countries that worsened his note against 2014, with Syria, Tibet, Somalia and North Korea as "the worst of the worst".
However, 69% of the world population live in democratic systems, with India, the United States and Brazil as the three great democratic nations of the world population.
Three countries joined the classification of "free" country in 2015: Ivory Coast, Nigeria and Sri Lanka; while three lost that label: Honduras, Macedonia and Maldives. EFE
Source: EFE
Source: EFE