Changes at the top.

• Author: Conaway, Janelle
• Position: Presidential elections in South America - Brief article

Voter in a number of member states have gone to the polls in recent weeks, and others will soon follow. In fact, of the thirty-four leaders invited to the November 2005 Summit of the Americas, fifteen will have been replaced or stood for re-election by the end of this year.

In this active election season, two countries in particular have made history: Chile voted in its first woman leader, President Michelle Bachelet, while Bolivia elected its first indigenous head of government, President Evo Morales.

Hondurans also have a new president, Manuel Zelaya, and Canadians a new prime minister, Stephen Harper. In St. Vincent and the Grenadines, meanwhile, voters reelected the government of Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves to a second term. Ten other member...