Corruption and growing social inequality have made people in Latin America become disappointed at the
democratic system, a special advisor to the Secretary General of the Organization of American States (OAS) said Tuesday.
"During the last four years, despite the economic development achieved in the region, the poverty and indigence levels have risen," Dante Caputo observed.
Caputo said this situation was frustrating for the Latin American people, who have lost trust in the political parties due to their inability
to solve the grave problems plaguing their countries.
One aspect affecting the system in the region was the political patronage system, which had become a common practice among local parties,
Caputo said. He cited vote-buying as an example.
Other factors threatening democracy in the region included the unequal income distribution and growing insecurity on the streets, he added.
However, despite these negative factors, Caputo conceded that many countries in the region had made great efforts to combat corruption, reduce poverty and try to avoid inflation.