The detention of Cilia Flores alongside Nicolás Maduro reignites the debate over the real power of first ladies in Latin America and lays bare how a role without formal oversight can become a key political actor within authoritarian regimes.

In a post-democratic era, political leadership quality is increasingly sidelined by structural factors, social discontent, and media consultants.

As voices emerge that threaten the survival of democracy, the challenge is to keep alive the legacy of those who learned that intolerance will never be the solution.

In the Andean country, a record level of party fragmentation has been made official: a total of 43 political parties have been authorized to run for the presidency in the upcoming elections.

Latin America has been fertile ground for power couples exercising power together, from autocracies or succession in the presidency to candidacies to reach the highest leadership positions.

The rise of authoritarianism in the world cannot be viewed as a homogeneous phenomenon. The detailed study of cases allows for an objective and concrete delineation of the reality we are observing.