The triumph of businessman Ricardo Martinelli against the socialist candidate, Balbina Herrera, in the recent presidential elections in Panama, marks the beginning of the end of the Sao Paulo Forum (SPF) in Latin America.

A decade ago, the candidates of the SPF represented a hope for their nations, mainly due to the failure of traditional parties. They promised change; they offered social justice, to defeat corruption, and to solve the problems of hunger and unemployment.

But after years in office, the results of their administrations have been frankly disastrous. They have not solved any of the crucial problems of the region and, on the contrary, the situation has worsened considerably. In some cases, they have destroyed democracy, infringed freedom, and flagrantly violated human rights.

The defeat of the Sao Paulo Forum in Panama is the first of many to come. The Broad Front (Frente Amplio) will hardly score another victory in Uruguay, especially with a candidate as bad as (former Tupamaro) José "Pepe" Mugica. Sebastián Piñera has ample chances of winning the forthcoming presidential elections in Chile. The Brazilian Workers' Party (PT) pre candidate, Dilma Rousseff, has not risen in the polls. The Kirchners were forced to anticipate the regional elections in Argentina, in order to avoid a humiliating defeat.

The radicals of the SPF, including Chavez, Morales and Ortega, are in serious trouble due to their inability to cope with the effects of the global economic crisis. They are striving to stay in power by radicalizing their methods: committing electoral fraud, fiercely persecuting the opposition and enacting laws that grant them absolute power, but they no longer have enough popular support to maintain governance. And regarding the Colombian FARC, founding members of the Sao Paulo Forum, it is clear that their days are numbered.

Other FSP candidates who did win elections —Funes in El Salvador and Correa in Ecuador— will have severe limitations to perform a decent job in their administrations, due to the combination of political polarization and economic crisis. If they are able to complete their respective periods, they could consider themselves fortunate.

Undoubtedly, winds of change are blowing in Latin America. But victory cannot be easily claimed. The radicals of the Sao Paulo Forum will do anything —even resort to the support of Islamic fundamentalism and international terrorism— to cling irrationally to their positions.

To fill the gap created by the failure of the SPF It is mandatory to create a new political movement in our continent, capable of bringing wealth, development and stability to the region.

(*) Venezuelan Opposition leader and President of UnoAmérica

Labels: Latin America, Panama