Political development is the starting point for economic and social development. Emphasis has shifted from the economic deficits of the 1970s to concern with social deficits. Today, the problem lies with political institutions. So people have the mistaken idea that democracy consists of holding elections. So long as elections are held, they think they can sit back with folded arms.
Democracy is a system that configures power relations with citizens day by day.
Therefore it poses great challenges to the governing classes. It is not enough to follow a constitutional formula, to hold elections, and to allow citizens to vote. And this leads us to a catalogue of deficits in democracy, including institutional weaknesses, judicial branches that are not independent, weak congresses, electoral systems that are not transparent, the lack of checks and balances for exercising control, and the absence of accountability by public officials to citizens. The tasks that lie ahead are very large. The great challenge for heads of government and political leaders in Latin America is to leave behind a past marked by despotism, political bossism and patronage, and enter a virtuous circle of democracy, development and the fight against poverty and inequality.