January 21, 2026
#21 | The Politics of Fear Across Central America
Central America enters a decisive political moment marked by insecurity, authoritarian drift, and unresolved demands for justice. In this news package, Central American Drop brings together the stories that define the region’s current tensions—where democratic institutions are under strain, power is increasingly personalized, and political calculations often override accountability.
From Costa Rica’s presidential debate, where public security dominated the agenda, to an in-depth portrait of Rodrigo Chaves’ presidency and its effects on social polarization, this edition examines how fear and order are being mobilized as political tools. We also revisit the unresolved crime that shook the region—the assassination of Berta Cáceres—revealing how funds from development banks were implicated in a case that remains emblematic of impunity.
Elsewhere, the Nicaraguan dictatorship’s release of political prisoners is analyzed not as reconciliation, but as a strategic response to growing vulnerability following the capture of Nicolás Maduro. In Honduras, post-election turmoil continues as countries reject a vote recount, deepening mistrust in electoral processes. Together, these stories trace a region grappling with power, resistance, and the fragile line between democracy and authoritarianism.
