For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-98-684 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Order Code 98-684 Updated August 26, 2008 Latin America and the Caribbean: Fact Sheet on Leaders and Elections Mark P. Sullivan Foreign Affairs, Defense, and Trade Division Julissa Gomez-Granger Knowledge Services Group This fact sheet tracks the current heads of government in Central and South America, Mexico, and the Caribbean, and provides the dates of the last and next election for head of government. It also provides the national independence date for each country. Table 1. South America Independence Country Head of Government Last Election Next Election Date FERNANDEZ DE Argentina July 9, 1816 Oct. 28, 2007 Oct. 2011 KIRCHNER, Cristina Bolivia Aug. 6, 1825 MORALES, Evo Dec. 18, 2005 Dec. 2010 DA SILVA, Luis Inácio Oct. 1/ Oct. 29, Brazil Sept. 7, 1822 Oct. 2010 Lula 2006 Dec. 11, 2005/ Chile Sept. 18, 1810 BACHELET, Michelle Dec. 2009 Jan. 15, 2006 Colombia July 20, 1810 URIBE, Alvaro May 28, 2006 May 2010 Oct. 15/Nov. 26, Ecuador May 24, 1822 CORREA, Rafael Oct. 2010 2006 Paraguay May 14, 1811 LUGO, Fernando Apr. 20, 2008 Apr. 2013 Apr. 9, 2006/ Peru July 28, 1821 GARCIA, Alan Apr. 2011 June 4, 2006 Uruguay Aug. 25, 1825 VÁZQUEZ, Tabaré Oct. 31, 2004 Oct. 2009 Venezuela July 5, 1811 CHÁVEZ, Hugo Dec. 3, 2006 Dec. 2012 CRS-2 Table 2. Mexico and Central America Independence Country Head of Government Last Election Next Election Date Mexico Sept. 16, 1810 CALDERÓN, Felipe July 2, 2006 July 2012 Costa Rica Sept. 15. 1821 ARIAS, Oscar Feb. 5, 2006 Feb. 2010 SACA, Elías Antonio El Salvador Sept. 15, 1821 Mar. 21, 2004 Mar. 2009 (Tony) Sept. 9, 2007/ Guatemala Sept. 15, 1821 COLOM, Alvaro by Nov. 2011 Nov. 4, 2007 Honduras Sept. 15, 1821 ZELAYA, Manuel Nov. 27, 2005 Nov. 2009 Nicaragua Sept. 15, 1821 ORTEGA, Daniel Nov. 5, 2006 Nov. 2011 Panama Nov. 3, 1903 TORRIJOS, Martin May 2, 2004 May 2009 Table 3. Caribbean Independence Country Head of Government Last Election Next Election Date Antigua & Nov. 1, 1981 SPENCER, Baldwin Mar. 23, 2004 by Mar. 2009 Barbuda Bahamas July 10, 1973 INGRAHAM, Hubert May 2, 2007 by May 2012 Barbados Nov. 30, 1966 THOMPSON, David Jan. 15, 2008 by Jan. 2013 Belize Sept. 21, 1981 BARROW, Dean Feb.7, 2008 February 2013 a a Cuba May 20, 1902 CASTRO RUZ, Raúl Dominica Nov. 3, 1978 SKERRITT, Roosevelt May 5, 2005 by May 2010 Dominican Feb. 27, 1844 FERNANDEZ, Leonel May 16, 2008 May 2012 Republic Grenada Feb. 7, 1974 THOMAS, Tillman July 8, 2008 July 2013 Guyana May 26, 1966 BHARRAT, Jagdeo Aug. 28, 2006 by Aug. 2011 Haiti Jan. 1, 1804 PRÉVAL, Réne Feb. 7, 2006 2011 Jamaica Aug. 6, 1962 GOLDING, Bruce Sept. 3, 2007 by Sept. 2012 St. Kitts & Sept. 19, 1983 DOUGLAS, Denzil Oct. 25, 2004 by Oct. 2009 Nevis St. Lucia Feb. 22, 1979 KING, Stephensonb Dec. 11, 2006 by Dec. 2011 St. Vincent & Oct. 27, 1979 GONSALVES, Ralph Dec. 7, 2005 by Dec. 2010 the Grenadines Suriname Nov. 25, 1975 VENETIAAN, Ronald May 25, 2005 May 2010 Trinidad & Aug. 31, 1962 MANNING, Patrick Nov. 5, 2007 by Nov. 2012 Tobago a. On February 24, 2008, Raúl Castro was selected by Cuba's legislature as President of the Council of State, a position that makes him head of state and government. Raúl had been serving as acting President since July 31, 2006, when Cuba's long-serving communist leader, Fidel Castro, stepped down provisionally because of poor health. Since the 1959 Cuban Revolution, there have been no elections for head of government. b. Stephenson King was sworn in as Prime Minister on September 10, 2007, following the death of Prime Minister John Compton, who had been elected in December 2006. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ For other versions of this document, see http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-98-684