MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: PARAGUAY, PRESIDENTIAL

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000204 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: PARAGUAY, PRESIDENTIAL AND PARLIAMENTARY ELECTIONS; SCO PAULO One More Column by Eliane Cantanhde in liberal Folha de S.Paulo (4/22) states: "A union leader in Brazil, a true Indian in Bolivia, a nationalist colonel with leftist leanings in Venezuela and, now, a former bishop in Paraguay. ... For centuries, the elites [in South America] failed to promote development, real independence and, most of all, social equality. In the 2000's, alternatives are sought... . The POLITICAL leadership of President-elect Fernando Lugo was formed, in theory, by the Liberation Theology and, in practice, by years of close relationship with the misery facing South America's second poorest country... . [He] Inherited a broken economy, excessive dependency on Itaipu, sweeping corruption and contraband practiced in plain view... . The former-bishop...indicated that he tends to balance a conciliatory spirit with the need for tension, provocation and even transgression against old habits in order to manage a country in desperate need of reforms, especially in its political culture." Latin America Article in liberal Folha de S.Paulo(4/22) states: "Fernando Lugo's victory in Paraguay closes a wide cycle of changes in governments of Latin America. Party-machines and dictatorships that lasted for decades were ousted in the last 25 years... . The situation nowadays is one of deep divide in many countries... . Paraguay will probably join the list... . Brazil [is seen] as an exception, as it is considered a 'sensible' leftist government... . Lula chose to work with traditional POLITICAL forces... . In the countries that are deeply divided today, the opposite happened... . It is hard to tell which path is the least harmul to democracy and to the establishment of stanards of income distribution that are decent at a inimum. But to be able to leave behind dictatorshis and one-party systems is a great progress." Lugo's Victory Liberal Folha de S.Paulo (4/22) ditorializes: "Endorsed by a myriad of multiple-endencies parties, opposition candidate [Fernando] Lugo was the depository of frustrations and the waring and tearing accumulated throughout the Colrado [party] mandate, marked by corruption, instbility, POLITICAL violence and administrative inefficiency... . All of this social uneasiness was not blamed only on the 61-year rule of the Colorado Party. Brazil is also being blamed, accused of ripping Paraguay off, especially in the 1973 Itaipu Treaty... . Lugo may ask whatever he wants, but he knows that the chances that Brazil will modify the treaty are dim." White