5.5.06

Outro presidente da esquerda sul-americana

Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez said he was most satisfied with the meeting Thursday in the White House with President George Bush, where it was agreed to expand trade and commercial links between the two countries.

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“We’re interested in improving our access to the US market with beef, diary produce, textiles and software, among other items”, said President Vazquez(...)
Vázquez emphasized Uruguay’s advantages to reach trade agreements, reliability and stability, plus the fact “there’s no need to corrupt officials” to have investment projects advanced. (...)
Further on he called for “a fair economic liberalism, fair in all commerce aspects so hopefully economic and political liberalism can march together”.
“Uruguay is interested in investments, quality investments, which challenge our potential and are equally profitable for the country and for investors”.

Actually quite a path for the first Socialist president of Uruguay and the ruling left wing coalition which for years had preached and campaigned against “the evils of US imperialism” and “its enslaving capitalism”.
However, since taking office the Vazquez administration has embraced orthodox macroeconomic policies, has been praised by the IMF and international banks, and has been named ironically the “best disciple”. The “best disciple” of his immediate predecessor, former president Jorge Batlle an ardent promoter of private enterprise and liberal economic policies which the most active groups of the ruling coalition abhors and condemns.