Outsiders are shaking up Latin America's politics

GUATEMALA AND Ecuador held elections on Aug. 20; two small countries, but revealing some key trends in Latin American politics.

- IAN BREMMER

In Guatemala, the progressive anti-corruption candidate Bernardo Arévalo won the presidential runoff in a landslide against the conservative former First Lady, Sandra Torres. In Ecuador, the right-wing populist businessman Daniel Noboa edged his way into an October runoff against former President Rafael Correa's chosen candidate, Luisa González, whom he is favored to defeat.

For starters, both Arévalo and Noboa are outsiders who were polling in the low single digits just weeks before overcoming establishment candidates in their respective first-round elections. This evinces strong voter frustration with the status quo in both countries.