Latin America's 'moderate' political change

In commenting on recent election victories for the left in Latin America, the Economist magazine says that the plethora of elections has produced a vote for moderate change. This approach conflicts with many commentators of both left and right who seem to be view a 'red tide' sweeping Latin America. In the eyes of the Economist: 'the elections confirmed the ascendancy not of tub-thumping anti-American populists but of the moderate centre-left. Such candidates won in six countries, including Brazil, Chile and Peru. In another two of the bigger countries, Colombia and Mexico, the centre-right was victorious. Mr Chávez's victory and the election of Evo Morales in Bolivia were the only clear triumphs for the far left. Mr Ortega won fewer votes than at the previous election, but profited from a split in the ruling Liberal party. Mr Correa [of Ecuador] won a run-off only after he moved sharply to the centre.' Rather than jumping up and down about the red menance, the Economist there is actually 'a new consensus' in the region that 'keeps the emphasis on low inflation and open market economies along the lines of the “Washington consensus”, and adds to that activist social policies'.