Media Reaction Sao Paulo Weekend February 01 2009

UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000071 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 XM XR XF BR SUBJECT: Media Reaction Sao Paulo Weekend February 01 2009 Media Reaction - Global Economy; Western Hemisphere: Venezuela, Chavez, re-election referendum, foreign relations, regional/global influence; Sao Paulo Title- Chavez, 10 Op-ed in liberal in Folha de S.Paulo (1-31) by Fabiano Maisonnave says: "Chiefs of federal departments [in Venezuela] are obliging their employees to donate a day's salary to [President Hugo Chavez's] campaign [for unlimited reelection]. In Brazil.... the order [to Brazilian diplomats and members of the government] is not to offend the ally, whose purchases represented 1/5 of Brazil's [trade] surplus in 2008. The [Brazilian] opposition has criticized the GOB's closely with the authoritarian regime, especially its act of forcing [Venezuela's] entrance in Mercosur. But 'tucanos' [, the opposition party,] also acknowledge that in the times of Chavez who has Lula's [favor] is king." Title- It is not a Tsunami, there are culprits Op-ed in liberal in Folha de S.Paulo (2-1) by Clovis Rossi states: "....using the word tsunami to describe the economic crisis....carries the risk of making people understand that the crisis, as with a tsunami, is a natural phenomenon for which nobody is to blame....It is not like this. The crisis has culprits that should be anxiously searched, what is not happening...from my point of view, the crisis is a product of market deification as almighty, omniscient and therefore, infallible.... [The question is] whether the world has leaders brave enough to put a vigilant eye in the up to now omnipotent market and whether [these leaders] are competent enough so that this eye is not squinting or myopic." Title- Lost in the crisis Op-Ed in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (2-1) by former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso says: "....yes, governments need to act. But looking to the future and helping productive investments, either private or public. And not placing people in debt....to save what cannot be saved....it is good to say that the global wealth reduction gives everyone, including and especially governments, the chance to think about the future. We either increase financial regulations globally (without suffocating the ability to innovate, the mother of development) and re-think the cultural model of the un-checked consumption and dilapidation of nature or tomorrow's retake can be even more damaging than the stage that is drying up now." Title- Obama, the great absentee Editorial in center-right O Estado de S.Paulo (2-1) says:"The global crisis was discussed in the World Economic Forum, in Switzerland, without the participation of the main actor, the President of the United States....A coordinated action is still fundamental. One of the most urgent challenges is the recovery of credit ....this is one of the various urgent themes on the list of cooperation between authorities. In this case, as in [the case of] trade, the stance of the U.S. administration is vital." WHITE