Latin American democracy is being put to the test in Brazil and Venezuela.
At stake is whether the left-wing government in either country can countenance the idea of legitimate opposition.
The day after losing Brazil's presidential election, Senator Flavio Bolsonaro had his personal and diplomatic passports confiscated and was ordered not to leave Brazil.
Earlier, as Brazilians went to the polls Sunday to choose between Bolsonaro and leftist incumbent leftist President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, Venezuelan opposition leader Maria Corina Machado was back in her home country for the first time after almost a year in exile.
Her freedom, and life, are now at the mercy of the socialist dictatorship led by Delcy Rodriguez, who took power after America's capture of Nicolas Maduro in January.
Venezuela has not had even the semblance of a free presidential election since 2013, following the death of Hugo Chavez, the socialist who established the present regime.
And Maduro's victory that year -- by less than 2 points -- has been much questioned.
Join the Conversation
VIP members get the ability to comment on articles.