Skim I
Skimm- Week of 4/10/2017
Skimmed while at work during down-time
The Story- Correa’s successor wins election
What does this mean? As discussed in class, the trend in Latin America has been to rightward shift and leftist candidates are getting voted out of office or impeached. However, Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa has halted this trend for now with his former Vice President and fellow leftist candidate, Lenin Moreno, winning a tight race. Despite the fact that many in the nation wanted change and were unhappy with Correa, the conservative candidate, Guillermo Lasso, who is also a former banker failed to impress the electorate. This election was similar to the one in the United States with Moreno pledging to continue many of Correa’s policies.
So what now?- Moreno has promised to be more tempered in his approach countering the combative Correa. Correa came into office in 2007 and stabilized the economy. But many accuse him of limiting the freedom of the press and that his success is largely based on high oil prices. With the decline in the price of oil and a horrible earthquake, Ecuador’s economy actually retracted last year. Regardless, Moreno is ready for the challenge. Moreover, there is a chance for the left to win again—this time in Mexico. Leftist candidate Obrador has been gaining in the polls and his staunch anti-Americanism with regards to President Trump’s policies and rhetoric have made him the favorite to win. However, the article out of the Wall Street Journal noted that the conservatives will remain in power in Chile barring surprising elections coming up soon.
Repeat After Me…
When you don’t have an ambassador-
Tension has been heating up between Israel and Brazil lately so much so that Brazil did not have an ambassador from the Jewish state from December 2015 to recently. The former ambassador left citing family reasons, and Brazil refused to formally accept his replacement. Former President Rousseff had an openly anti-Israel platform and strongly disapproved of settlement building. Israel’s choice which was never confirmed was Dani Dayan—a leader of settlement building.
The reaction-
Acting and centrist President Michel Temer ended this standoff by confirming the appointment of Yossi Sheli. His appointment is controversial as well. Sheli is a member of the Likud party and had a prior perjury indictment. On the contrary, The Brazilian Israelite Confederation applauded the move as long overdue.
So moving forward-
This appointment could pave the way for increased economic ties between they two countries. Both nations are in strategically valuable places and home to critical investments. So long as Temer is in power, one should expect better relations in the future. However, he is only the acting president with so many leaders falling around him.
Links:
http://www.pulsamerica.co.uk/2017/02/international_a_new_era_between_brazil_and_israel/