Safe Democracy Foundation - Safe Democracy

The post-election strategy of the PRD in Mexico

Ciro Di Costanzo explains how the Mexican people have rejected Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador’s proclamation that he is the legitimate president. In Costanzo’s opinion, if the PRD continues to support itself on Obrador’s strategy, the party will end up fragmented and weakened, and will hurt the image of a responsible and viable left that took years to construct. In supporting AMLO’s protest, the PRD needs to question whether its goal is the best interest of the people, or the satisfaction of a frustrated leader.

The consolidation of the left in the Andes

Maximiliano Borches describes the steps that the new President of Ecuador, Rafael Correa, will put into motion: including a national referendum for the creation of a Constituent Assembly, an across the board refusal of the Free Trade Treaty of the Americas, and the reopening of negotiations with oil companies; all the while maintaining the dollar as the national money and continuing to subsidize private Ecuadorian companies. In Borches‘ opinion, Rafael Correa’s victory will strengthen Hugo Chavez in the region, but will also consolidate the growing power of the leftist block in Latin America.

Argentina: Taking on the burden of justice

Pedro G. Cavallero describes how despite an erratic and contradictory foreign policy, the administration of Nestor Kirchner in Argentina may have finally found the right path. In Cavallero’s opinion, in supporting Venezuela’s candidacy to the UN Security Council, Argentina was also supporting Venezuela’s ally, Iran, believed to be responsible for the double bombings in Buenos Aires in the 1990s. Yet, the recent court decision to issue international arrest warrants for those Iranians responsible for the attacks signifies that finally Argentina has chosen to take on the burden of justice.

Election season in Venezuela

Ricardo Angoso explains why Hugo Chavez is ahead in the polls and why he will continue to be the President of Venezuela, despite the rise of the opposition candidate Manuel Rosales. Yet, given Chavez‘ imminent victory, the fact that the opposition party has been able to stage such a rapid comeback is important evidence of the growing discontent in Venezuela of Chavez‘ administration. Because the economy continues to be a disaster throughout the country (despite the rise in the price of oil), poverty remains endemic and insecurity and unemployment are growing, even Chavez‘ most loyal supporters begin to doubt the past eight years of unfulfilled revolutionary promises.

Similarities to Cardoso’s regime

Mauro Soares discusses Lula’s unwillingness to change the conservative economic policies that have hurt, rather than helped, the annual growth of Brazil’s economy. Despite campaign strategies to distance his administration from the negative legacy of ex-President Cardoso, in upholding these policies, Lula is in fact continuing Cardoso’s heritage. In Soares‘ opinion, the real debate in Brazil, concerning specific economic policies, has been pushed aside in favor of political rhetoric and electioneering.

Behind the Protests in Mexico

Zidane Zeraoui explains that far from having anything to do with indigenous or democratic interests, the current conflict in Oaxaca is a classic struggle for power between section 22 of the independent syndicate of the magistracy and the state government. In provoking protests in one of Mexico’s poorest regions, the syndicate leadership is looking for more than its traditional share of the power. Linked with the interests of the PRD, it seeks to destabilize the entire leftist region and further the legitimacy crisis that Mexico’s government has mired in since the presidential elections in July. In Zeraoui’s opinion, the decision taken by Vicente Fox to act was not only legitimate, but also greatly needed.

An Analysis of a Tremendous Victory in Brazil

Julio Cesar Casarin Barroso Silva examines the elections in Brazil and explains what unknown policies await the country after Lula’s overwhelming victory. Ruling out the possible radicalization of the Brazilian Social Democracy Party, Casarin Barroso believes that it will be necessary to wait and see if Lula will be able to spur economic development and implement urgent income redistribution measures in one of the most unequal societies on the planet.

The past can reveal disturbing truths regarding the present

Pedro G. Cavallero explains how, half a century after his downfall, General Peron, and the political movement he created, remain deeply rooted in Argentinean society. Recent research into Peron’s inner circle has greatly facilitated the study of Peronism’s misguided understanding of leadership, and its disregard for democratic institutions. In Cavallero’s opinion, while Peronism remains engrained within every aspect of Argentinean life, the negative aspects of Peronist government continue to influence Argentinean politics under the leadership of Nestor Kirchner. The study of the past can reveal some very disturbing truths regarding the present.

Mauro Victoria Soares discusses the contention of the Presidential elections in Brazil, which have never been so clearly divided along economic lines: Geraldo Alckmin garnering much of his support from the upper classes, and Lula da Silva from the lower strata of society. Initial polls had predicted an easy victory for Lula in the first round, but due to the sensationalizing of a scandal involving Worker’s Party members, Lula’s popularity may have been hurt. It remains to be seen whether Lula’s popular and successful economic redistribution programs will be enough to win him a second chance at the Presidency against a tough opposition.