South American political and institutional trends

Political trends across South America indicate declining institutional trust and shifting approval ratings. In Chile, polling shows a sharp decline in confidence toward the judicial system, with 83% of citizens reporting a lack of trust in the institution and 82% believing the system fails to ensure equality before the law. Additionally, President José Antonio Kast’s approval has dropped to 33%.

In Argentina, President Javier Milei’s electoral ceiling has fallen to 37.4%, with projections suggesting a potential technical tie in a runoff against opposition figures. Social challenges have also emerged in the country; the Observatorio de Política Criminal reported that suicide rates reached a historic high in 2025 with 5,209 deaths, a 22.6% increase from 2024. This has become the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults aged 15 to 34, surpassing traffic accidents.

In Bolivia, the Organization of American States (OAS) has called for consensus on reforms, warning that various demands do not justify ongoing road blockades. Concurrently, the Bolivian government has submitted a bill to the Legislative Assembly seeking a $1.9 billion credit from the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

Meanwhile, Costa Rica’s 2027 national budget proposal includes significant funding reductions for the security and justice sectors, including the Ministry of Public Security and the Poder Judicial.