Álvaro Uribe’s Conviction Adds to Latin America’s Troubling Legacy of Corrupt Former Presidents

In a stark reminder of endemic corruption plaguing Latin American governance, former Colombian President Álvaro Uribe has been sentenced to 12 years of house arrest for fraud and bribery. At 73, Uribe becomes the first ex-Colombian leader to face such a conviction, highlighting both judicial progress and the deep-rooted challenges undermining national sovereignty across the continent. Why Does Latin America Keep Electing Leaders Who End Up in Jail? This latest ruling adds Uribe to an extensive list of former presidents convicted on charges ranging from bribery to severe human rights violations. From Alberto Fujimori’s bloody autogolpe era in Peru, which...