Politics Not Economics Sinking Mexico
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
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Everything that could possibly go wrong seems to be going wrong for Mexico,
Right now, things look pretty bad in this country: The economy is projected to fall by nearly 7 percent this year because of a dramatic decline in exports to
But
Calderón, who won the 2006 elections with only 35 percent of the vote, only 0.6 percent more than the runner-up, faces a solid opposition majority in
BLOCKADE
As a result, Calderón's efforts to reactivate the economy by raising taxes -- Mexico is, alongside
That's nothing new in Mexico, where Calderón's own party played a similar blocking game when it was in the opposition. Mexico has three major political parties and two of them have traditionally obstructed whatever the president wants to do.
But
Arguing that Mexico must end its political paralysis,
Will the opposition parties go for runoff elections? A senior government official told me privately that it could happen. The center-left
"They feel that they have a chance of winning the 2012 presidential elections, and that they would be facing the same problem if they win," the official said. "They may end up accepting the idea of a runoff election."
COUNTER-PROPOSAL
Instead, the PRI political reform bill will include proposals such as congressional ratification of Cabinet members -- much like in
REFORM NEEDED
My opinion:
That can only be done either by a political reform that introduces a runoff election, or by creating the job of a prime minister ratified by
Latin American Economy Will Do Well, but Not Great
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
The news that Brazil and Mexico have come out of the recession and are poised for solid growth in 2010 should be celebrated, and both countries' leaders should be given credit for their sound economic management. But in the global economic context, the two Latin American giants' recovery will be modest.
Latin America Low on Obama's Priority List
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
One year after the election of President Barack Obama, it's time to ask whether his ambitious campaign promises about Latin America are being fulfilled, or whether, like others before him, he has placed the region at the bottom of his foreign policy priorities. Let's look at Obama's key campaign promises for Latin America
Time for Common Latin American Visa
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
While the 27-nation European Union has just approved creation of a common foreign service with embassies throughout the world, Latin American countries cannot even agree on a common visa for tourists from other parts of the world in time for the 2014 soccer World Cup in Brazil.
Royal Spanish Academy Ponders Changes to Spanish Language
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
One of the pleasant surprises I found during a recent visit to Spain is a new trend by the Royal Spanish Academy to officially modernize the Spanish language and make it much easier to read and write.
Spain Nudging European Union to Ease Cuba Stand
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
Spain's announcement that it will seek a major improvement in European ties with Cuba's dictatorship once it takes over the presidency of the 27-country European Union on Jan. 1 is bad news not only for pro-democracy activists on the island, but also for oppositionists in several other authoritarian-ruled Latin American countries.
Brazil a Nuclear Power? Probably Not
Latin American Current Events, News & Affairs - Andres Oppenheimer
Brazil's Vice President Jose Alencar made big headlines recently when he stated that Brazil should have the right to have nuclear weapons, which he said would give his country a greater 'dissuasive' power and more 'respectability' in world affairs.
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