South America’s endless relationship with political scandal
These are difficult days for South American presidents, with both serving and former members of this select group snarled up in a series of corruption scandals that once again highlight the sordid underbelly of the continent’s political culture.
In Bolivia, voters recently rejected a proposal to allow President Evo Morales run for a fourth term in office, his quest torpedoed by accusations that his former lover, Gabriela Zapata, used their relationship to illegally enrich herself.
Following the result, Zapata was promptly arrested for money laundering, misappropriation of public funds and influence trafficking.
A day later her sister revealed that her son with Morales did not die shortly after his birth, as the president had initially told the country.
http://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/south-america-s-endless-relationship-with-political-scandal-1.2559297