New Paraguay President Expands Leftist Leadership in Latin America

ASUNCION, Paraguay — The victory of the "bishop of the poor" in Paraguay's presidential election expands a wave of leftist leadership across Latin America and further isolates the few remaining conservative governments. Once Fernando Lugo is inaugurated on August 15, the only right-leaning governments in Latin America will be Colombia, El Salvador, and Mexico, and arguably Peru, where a left-leaning populist party has gradually edged to the right.

"The triumph of comrade Fernando Lugo is ... yet another stone in the foundation of this new Latin America that is just, sovereign, independent, and why not, socialist," President Correa of Ecuador gushed during a visit from Argentina's new leftist President Fernandez.

In an interview yesterday with the Associated Press, Mr. Lugo repeated his distaste for labels: "I'm not of the left, nor of the right."