September 23, 2006
World Magazine on President Lula
World Magazine has this excellent analysis of Brazilian president Lula:
WORLD Magazine | Weekly News, Christian ViewsBrazil is in a position to lead a bloc of moderate leftists against Chavez. President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva is up for reelection Oct. 1 and is almost guaranteed a win. As a longtime union leader and member of the far-left Worker's Party, da Silva tried for the presidency three times before recasting himself as a moderate and winning in 2002. During his first term, he has largely maintained the policies of his center-right predecessor, allowing for slow but steady economic growth and a stabilized currency.
At the same time, appealing to his original base, da Silva has increased social spending. Under his tenure, the minimum wage has increased 25 percent. A cash-transfer program for poor Brazilians now reaches 8.7 million families, a fifth of the population. A hands-off management style and distancing from the corrupt image of his own party have earned him comparisons to Ronald Reagan as the region's "Teflon" president.
The whole article is worth a read, as it contrasts Latin America's center-left leaders with the Hugo Chavez crowd.
Posted by Andrew on September 23, 2006 10:32 AM.
Comments
Posted by: Greg at September 27, 2006 1:52 PM
Good question. A couple reasons I can think of:
1. Lula was such a leftist in his early days (I was present at a rally in 1989 where he advocated nationalizing just about everything), that his moderate tone has surprised just about everybody.
2. Brazil is huge. Compared with Chili, Brazil is gigantic--with influence to match. This may be another reason.
3. Lula is known. As his most recent campaign add says: "I know the world, and the world knows me".
Those are just off the top of my head.
Posted by: Andrew at September 27, 2006 3:30 PM
Subscribe via
I'm wondering why Chilean Pres. Michelle Bachelet hasn't had more press. She's also on the moderate left and would be considered a suitable counter-balance to Chavez.
We love World magazine too!