Note to potential readers: after a few comments here and there, I mean this is not an analysis or a trial on the policy in South America . In fact, this paper tried to be part of a larger, humorous but educational , which broke down. However, I did not miss part of the writing. After several alterations and erasures, was this amorphous thing.
Ecuador through several political problems of varying intensity: first, the tension with Colombia will not have faded completely from that raid in 2008 when the Colombian army struck Raul Reyes in Ecuadorian territory. In fact, diplomatic relations remain at the level of "responsible business", since neither of the two countries have restored or appointed new ambassadors. President Rafael Correa, an economist, Bolivarian , and who now in its second term, has been losing support of the middle and even some indigenous groups, especially following his government has suspended or ceased transmission renew giving to several radio and television (as Teleamazonas) as punishment for his deliberate opposition to his social revolution. Should not fail to mention that Ecuador is one of Latin America, perhaps the first, which annually sends more migrants to Spain.
The tragi and political theater of the absurd are common in Peru . First, Alan Garcia, who was president from 1985-1990, had a mandate that almost sent the economic and social abyss home. But the magic of political reinvention and fear of Chavez allowed to compete and win in the last elections to pro-Chavez military Ollanta Humala. And you can not say I'm doing wrong, most amazingly, in 2009 the only two Latin American countries saw their economies were Peru and Panama. And you can say more: reducing poverty, or so the numbers say, is happening thanks to Garcia's social programs. Congratulations. But here comes more absurd, although in Peru's presidential election will be until April 2011, the electoral pulse has already started and show that a person who heads the lists in all political polls is Kiek (Yes, as the killer of Reino Aventura) Fujimori, daughter of former president who resigned by fax! while on tour in Asia and is currently imprisoned for crimes against human rights and serving a sentence of nearly 30 years. Did they believe that Mexico was the country's political surrealism?
January 3 Chile will have had their second round of the presidential election. Within days, the president-elect will be one of these two, or Sebastian Pinera, a businessman right and candidate of Alliance for Chile, and Eduardo Frei, who has served as president during the period 1994-2000, and participated sheltered by Bachelet's party, Concertación. The funny thing is that both candidates are closer to the right than the left. Do not be surprised if suddenly there are strikes of high school students, would be interesting to know why these guys are so combative, or issues between the state and the mining companies.
Argentina In the political arena is diffuse. The star of the next Kirchner declining and several corruption scandals and illicit enrichment surrounding the presidential couple. Néstor Kirchner, the president who "saved" Argentina's battered economy in 2003 and faced with relative success demands for payment of the International Monetary Fund has become a dark censor decisions of his wife and that you are no longer enjoying both Argentine people. In the social should be noted that the first gay wedding in Latin America was held in Ushuaia, Argentina. Well, although this is not political issue, must be remembered that one of the most beautiful goals and one of the most controversial of all time were made the same match the same person Maradona in the semifinal against England in 1986. Rule of thumb: never insult or covertly to this star of football.
In Uruguay things will get interesting. Vázquez, who gained fame for moderate leftist, is to end his presidency. His successor will be Jose Mujica, a Tupamaro ex-guerrilla who spent some years in jail for civil-military dictatorship of 1973-1985. In fact, several of the ministers will also be coming ex-guerrillas, the most famous case is that of Luis Rosadilla, who will serve as defense minister. The new government will assume office on March 1, 2010. Maybe then write something about the movement tupamaro as such, one of the most active guerrilla groups, violent and resulted in more rejection in much of the Uruguayan population, at the time revolutionary, idealistic and chaotic.
In Colombia, there are three difficult issues: the possible referendum to re-elect Alvaro Uribe military agreement with the United States allowing the use of Colombian bases by American troops and the disgraceful sticking a governor! by the FARC. Uribe's case is worthy of study: President since 2002, his popularity rating is still incredibly high. In almost all surveys have been done recently, 60% of respondents replied that they would be willing to participate in the referendum and almost 70% said they would vote for Uribe for another term if possible. The president, however, remains in a strange silence, as she has not publicly announced whether he would be willing to truly compete for the presidency a third time and giving contradictory statements. On military bases, an issue that has raised blister between various governments in the region, UNASUR discussed in January for the third time this situation. The alarm stays on all time Colombia has announced military spending "deterrent" for nearly 5 billion dollars until 2014. And finally, last December 21 the FARC gave another demonstration of savagery by kidnapping and murdering Luis Francisco Cuellar, governor of the southern department of Caqueta. While this fact has only confirmed the denial with all sectors Colombians against the FARC's struggle, and although the issue has gone away from the limelight, no doubt this asesintato has been a blow to the policy of "safety democratic "Uribe, because since 2002 there had been a kidnapping an official of that hierarchy.
Venezuela is a case apart. Despite all the debates are focused on the same person, Chavez, the country's social situation shows contradictory signs. While the Bolivarian social missions have reduced the margin a bit extreme poverty and there is a strong sense of nationalism and renewal in much of the Venezuelan population, it is also true remaining structural problems, namely: 1) a political economy based almost entirely on capital inflows from oil, 2) an inflation rate close to 30%, one of the highest in Latin America, which is due in part to control price that keeps the government, which has produced shortages of basic foods, and a somewhat wasteful spending, and 3) the increase in crime, according to unofficial figures, has already reached very high levels in areas such as kidnapping, robbery and homicide . On domestic policy, the most controversial issue has been the Mayor of Caracas and its leader, Antonio Ledezma. It turns out that this political opposition in June 2009 won the mayoralty despite all government efforts to prevent it, however, by presidential decree in August of that same year he took nearly 80% of the resources and most of this administration responsibilities local and Chavez created out of nothing the Sole Authority of the Capital District and appointed directly to the first charge, Jacqueline Faria. Go case. If we enter into international affairs, Chavez remains one of the few presidents who receive and entertain the same dictators like Muammar Gaddafi and Libyan support repressive measures of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad in Iran. To say that now goes to Chavez to fight with the Kingdom of the Netherlands Netherlands (in addition to the mainland also contains the Netherlands Antilles and Aruba) Aruba because it is that U.S. military bases there. The theme itself is sensitive, as the Netherlands and United States claims these bases are used to create a security cordon to prevent or deter the Colombian drug traffickers to use this exit route. The Venezuelan president, in turn, has a new item to rant against the U.S. and launch, for the ninetieth time, the cry of alarm "are in imminent danger, they will attack us." But hey, not everything is black. Venezuelan festive mood, the beauty of their women and their delicious rum pirate tequeños and manage to do that get distracted a little from all these political issues.
Bolivia, the South American country with the largest number of Indians, has regained some political peace after several states, richer, tried to pass two laws and constitutions to prevent autonomic control of the central government and social polarization is gradually lightened after groups opposed to Evo Morales and supporters of the government is embroiled in a struggle that included aggressive truly dead and opposition governor jailed for encouraging the unrest. The topic of the moment is trade. Yes, commerce, because the U.S. does not take into account Bolivia in a tariff liberalization package in which are included almost all the Andean countries and that means that Bolivian products retain their business taxes in the U.S.. Oh, also just out the arrest warrant against former presidential candidate, Manfred Reyes, one of the politicians most notorious opponents of Morales, accused of fraudulent sale of goods and to be part of a conservative conspiracy that ended in a massacre of indigenous 2003. Note to self: watch the movie "The flame white ".
