He lost again last autumn, to an unashamed right-winger, Arnoldo Aleman, by 38% to a solid 51%.

ECONOMIST: Nicaragua

Mr Castillo too is a governor's son: his father, Arnoldo, was elected in Catamarca after Mr Saadi was pushed out, then re-elected in 1995.

ECONOMIST: Argentina

The Bush Administration is doing its part by unabashedly and ham-handedly backing Eduardo Montealegre , a foreign minister under the discredited former president, Arnoldo Aleman .

CENTERFORSECURITYPOLICY: Who's losing Latin America?

Voters have not spotted any huge decline in corruption under Arnoldo Castillo, and, with voting due on March 21st, by this week son Oscar's once 20-point opinion-poll lead had been cut in half.

ECONOMIST: Argentina