Michelle Bachelet was recently sworn in as the first female president in Chile's history. The centre-left leaning ex minister of Defence during the recently concluded government of President Ricardo Lagos, represents the will of the Chilean electorate to continue with the formula that has so successfully guided its interests in recent years: right wing in economical matters, left wing in social issues. It is important to note that Miss Bachelet is daughter of a murdered activist during Pinochet's dictatorship. She is also a single mother. Her election represents an important step forward for the -sometimes- absurdly macho -minded Latin American society.

Further north, Lourdes Flores could also soon become Peru's first female president. The conservative right winger -with close ties to the Opus Dei, the United States, and the country's traditional power groups-, dubbed as "Bush's candidate", appears as the favourite in the polls, followed by Commander Ollanta Humala -"Hugo Chavez's candidate"- and controversial ex president Alan Garcia. The outcome of this election is crucial for the composition of South America's geopolitical map. Should Miss Flores win, the Lima-Bogota axis -where President Alvaro Uribe is clear favourite to win the re election- will be of vital importance for the wavering U.S. presence in the region. Should Commander Humala win, Hugo Chavez -favourite to win the re election in Venezuela toward the end of the year- will have a new companion -along with the eternal Fidel Castro and the amazing Evo Morales- in the revolutionary far left margin of the board. Meanwhile, Alan Garcia styles himself as more in tune with the currently popular "moderate left", though sour memories of his disgraceful first mandate may prove an obstacle far too big for the APRA candidate.

Regarding other matters, Sur Press is pleased to announce the first edition of miradas , an exhibition of photographs and documentaries about Latin America to take place in Central London between May 23 and June 03. This will be possible thanks to Canning House, our associate in this endeavour, who will lend its headquarters and infrastructure for the event. We invite you to visit SURPRESS.com for any news about miradas .    

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Araceli Calderón
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Celsa Díaz de T.
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James Dunkerley
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Maruja Escalante de T.
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Lucy Frankel
Laura Gandini
Eva García
Guillermo Giacosa
Haidee Laure Giles
Oliver Glave
Fabián Gonzáles
Hernán Granovsky
Colin Harding
Aristeo Hernández
Maribel Hernández
Miguel Ángel Hernández
Daniel Herrera
Saúl Hoyos
Betty Huerta
Ursula Iturrizaga
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Rita Iunes
José Jueguen
Pere Jordi
Isabella Kahn
Christian Ku
Javier Lajo
Manuel Lajo
Eric Lara
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Enrique Llanes
Marcela Londoño
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Marco López
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César Lovón
Rodrigo Llano I.
Jon Maber
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