MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PERU, PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000638

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD

DEPT PASS USTR

USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PERU, PRESIDENTIAL
ELECTION AFTERMATH; VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'S REGIONAL INFLUENCE;
BRAZILIAN TRADE DIPLOMACY; SAO PAULO



1. "Lesser Evil"

Liberal, largest national circulation daily Folha de S. Paulo
editorialized (6/6): "Alan Garcia's victory in Peru's presidential
elections is the triumph of a 'lesser evil'.... His alternative,
Ollanta Humala seemed far more dreadful. Humala was a retired
military who participated in a military coup attempt and whose only
credentials were a histrionic nationalistic discourse and Venezuelan
President Hugo Chavez's support. He promised to prevent foreign
companies from operating in 'strategic' sectors and wanted to
industrialize the coca leaf production.... Although Garcia continues
to be a populist leader, there is no reason to believe that he has
not learned from the mistakes he made during his first term.... His
main problem will be to find ways to reduce poverty, which affects
half of the Peruvian population."


2. "Chavez's Defeat in Peru"

Center-right O Estado de S. Paulo's editorial commented (6/6):
"There is no doubt that the greater one defeated in the presidential
elections in Colombia and Peru was Colonel Hugo Chavez. What
happened in Peru showed how Hugo Chavez's interference in the local
electoral process ended up in actually helping out the candidate
that he did not want to see prevail.... In turn, Hugo Chavez's open
interference in the electoral campaign favored Alan Garcia in the
dispute, thereby forcing Ollanta Humala - who is unquestionably a
Chavez's follower - to deny any link with the Venezuelan caudillo in
a desperate attempt to annul the 'Chavez effect.'"


3. "Mended Diplomacy"

An editorial in center-right O Estado de S. Paulo (6/6) maintained:
"Colombia may become a bridge between Brazilian private companies
and the US market.... President Alvaro Uribe is aware of that and is
willing to attract Brazilian capital to his nation by offering the
opportunities that were created by the trade agreement Colombia
signed with the US.... With the FTAA jeopardized, Brasilia will be
satisfied with the creation of an informal consultation system with
Washington to facilitate trade between the two nations.... Last year
Brazil exported more to Latin America than to the US.... An
agreement like the FTAA would have provided Brazil with better
conditions to face powerful competitors such as China, but the
Brazilian negotiators preferred to spend their time playing Third
World diplomacy.... Brazilian exports increased, but they could have
increased even more if the GOB had made more promising trade
agreements.... The 'victories' of Brazilian diplomacy could be
measured by President Hugo Chavez's disaggregating action and by
Brasilia's weakness towards the impositions of Bolivian President
Evo Morales."
McMullen