Pernambuco News

HEADLINES: May 20th

2006-05-20T11:09:00.000-07:00

The PSDB presidential pre-candidate, Geraldo Alckmin, will propose the unification of the Civil and Military Police as a part of his plan for national security, according to PSDB president Tasso Jereissati. The party leader cited the growth of organized crime and the need to have a unified state response as reasons for the proposal.

After a visit from the Brazilian minister from the Special Secretariat for Human Rights, Uruguayan deputy Daniela Payseé announced the desire of the two countries to create a common policy on human rights. The minister, Paulo de Tarso Vannuchi, also met with the Uruguayan chancellor, the secretary of the Presidency, and the ministers of Defense and Culture.

President Lula will take part in next week's PT radio and TV broadcasts, scheduled to be aired on Thursday. Major subjects are expected to include education — a central platform item for the party — as well as economic gains and public safety issues. This last topic is expected to address the recent clashes between police and the criminal group Primeiro Comando da Capital (PCC) which have left over 100 dead in São Paulo state.

HEADLINES: May 10th

2006-05-10T08:36:00.000-07:00

PMDB activists have staged pro-Garotinho demonstrations outside of the Rio de Janeiro party headquarters, where the former governor has been sequestered since he began his hunger strike ten days ago. Garotinho's doctor has been advising the politician to end the strike since this morning, though so far Garotinho remains determined to continue.

United States Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice showed support to Lula last Friday in a speech at the Inter-American Development Bank, the text of which was just made public today. Sec. Rice praised Brazil's focus on education in particular. The comments were seen by some to underscore U.S. desire to see the more moderate Lula trump Venezuela's Chávez for unofficial leader of the South American region.

The Bolivian Minister of Hydrocarbons, Andrés Soliz, said today that negotiations on gas supply and prices will be between governments, not the petrochemical companies. He clarified, saying that "the governments will instruct their respective oil companies on the course of the negotiations, so that they do not take on a strictly commercial nature."

HEADLINES: May 9th

2006-05-09T15:00:00.000-07:00

Brazilian Minister of Foreign Relations Celso Amorim announced today that his Ministry — called Itamaraty, for the building in which it is housed — would create a Department of Energy to provide technical know-how for diplomatic discussions. He cited Brazil's desire to diversify the sources of its energy as a prime reason for the creation of the new agency.

The management of the condominium where the PMDB has its offices in Rio de Janeiro has said that they want to expel Garotinho. Other people who work in the building have complained about the high volume of visitors and even damage to the structure due to such activity.

Itamar Franco, PMDB pre-candidate for the Presidency, has said that for the party not to run a campaign for the nation's highest office would be the organization's death certificate. Itamar suggested that the PMDB has a unique opportunity to find its place on the national scene, though the party is divided over whether or not to pursue the Presidency.

COMMENTARY: Lessons from Oil Nationalization

2006-05-09T11:00:00.000-07:00

Without a doubt, the recent nationalization of Bolivia's oilfields is a major event for the country and for the region. While the presence of military personnel in foreign facilities must give the international community pause, and while the sudden nature of the takeover has certainly made some nervous, that Morales should make this decision is neither surprising nor particularly detrimental. In fact, what originally elicited fears of instability, may actually serve as a catalyst for increased regional co-operation in South America.

Last Monday's declaration by Bolivian President Evo Morales sent shockwaves through the Ameicas. The President stated that all natural gas production facilities in the country will be operated by the state-run YPFB for a period of 180 days, during which time new contracts will be drafted with the former owners. In the mean time, only 18% of the profits from production will go to the foreign firms. This is enough, according to the Bolivian government, to cover operating expenses. After the negotiation period has expired, any companies which have not reached an agreement with YPFB and the state will lose their properties in the country.

The reaction from Lula's government was timely but did not suggest panic. The President met with his cabinet ministers on Tuesday morning to discuss a way forward, and then proceeded to a meeting with Morales and the presidents of Argentina and Venezuela on Thursday. In the interim, he received assurances from the Bolivian Vice President that his country would not cut off oil to Brazil, citing past contract obligations.

On Friday morning, reactions to the four presidents' meeting were positive. Newspapers in Bolivia gave Lula credit for averting a potential diplomatic crisis by his earnest, level-headed response to Morales' decision. It is clearly in the interest of both countries for Brazilian investments to remain in Bolivia, and for Bolivian oil to continue to flow to Brazil. To this end, it was in the interest of both countries for conflict to have been averted, and that is just what the four-party meeting has done.

In stark contrast to the official response to Bolivia, Petrobrás lashed out at Morales almost immediately. Though the firm's Director of Gas and Energy, Ildo Sauer, participated in Tuesday's meeting with Lula's cabinet, he expressed dissent, announcing that the corporation will seek international judicial intervention in order to block the nationalization.

To my mind, Petrobrás' reaction is counterproductive. The issue as it now stands is representative of both the great fruits which frank diplomacy can yield and its effective application. The truth is that neither Brazil nor Bolivia can afford a serious break in relations. Bolivia provides a large portion of Brazil's oil, to be sure, but Brazilian investment also sustains a large portion of the Bolivian economy. The two nations' energy interests are inextricably linked, and so any oil agreement between the two will necessarily have to be mutually beneficial.

If Petrobrás does, indeed, seek international intervention — and gets it — such interference may upset the détente which the four-party talks have established. And to what end? While the interests of the gas company may be met by reversing the nationalization process, the state firm would run the risk of pushing Bolivia toward further radicalization, and therefore causing the whole diplomatic discussion to founder.

There is good news on this front. Last Friday, Petrobrás announced that it would wait 45 days for contract negotiations before going to the international judicial community for intervention. This is a step in the right direction. At this point, it seems that the four-party agreement has secured equitable gas prices and a steady supply of fuel. If this turns out to be untrue, the judicial system will still be available in 45 days, and the firm's good-faith effort at negotiation will serve them will in the public sphere. In the meantime, calling for a reversal of Morales' decree is both hypocritical and risky. With things as they are now, international intervention would be a terrible case of Petrobrás cutting off its nose to spite its face.

Sources:

HEADLINES: May 8th

2006-05-08T08:55:00.000-07:00

Garotinho's doctor has said that he will likely only be able to go two or three more days ingesting only water. The physician, Abdu Neme, pointed to the politican's low glucose levels and the risk of cardiac problems. Garotinho has so far lost 5.7 kg.

The Order of Brazilian Lawyers (OAB) is set to decide today on whether or not to call for Lula's impeachment. Various regional branches of the organization will have a say, casting a total of 36 votes on a proposal which Sérgio Ferraz will bring before the OAB.

The Bolivian government will name new directors today for three foreign firms nationalized last week. Those affected will be Chaco, part of BP; Andina, of Repsol YPF; and Transredes of Shell and Enron.

Lula affirmed today that Brazil's role in the region is to help neighboring countries to grow. "Brazil doesn't want to be an island of development surrounded by poor countries. We want all people to have the chance to grow a little." He went on to say that the best way to resolve issues with Bolivia is negotiation.

HEADLINES: May 6th

2006-05-06T08:50:00.000-07:00

In a meeting yesterday morning, the PSDB leadership, including former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso, party president Tasso Jereissati, governor Aécio Neves, and PSDB presidential pre-candidate Geraldo Alckmin, reiterated their desire for an alliance with the PMDB. If such an agreement does not come to fruition, the PSDB will at least work to prevent a PT-PMDB alliance come October.

The PT has petitioned the Supreme Electoral Tribunal (TSE) to declare PSDB pre-candidate Geraldo Alckmin ineligible for the presidency, based on purported mishandling of the party's media campaign. The Workers' Party alleges that the opposition has illegally used party air time exclusively to publicize Alckmin.

Alckmin also suggested the possibility yesterday that Lula had known ahead of time about the nationalization program undertaken this past week in Bolivia's energy sector, citing the calm reaction from Brasília. The former governor asked why there had not been, "explicit condemnation of the unilateral, violent action" which Morales took.

HEADLINES: May 5th

2006-05-05T10:01:00.000-07:00

In recent polls commissioned by the PSDB and conducted by the Brasilian Institute of Public Opinion and Statistics — Ibope — Lula was shown to be favored by a healthy 40% of those surveyed. Only 20% said they favored Alckmin, the major opposition candidate.

Contrary to earlier reports, Anthony Garotinho, former governor of Rio de Janeiro, has said that he will not end his five day-old hunger strike today. Regarding his potential candidacy for the presidency, Garotinho has said, "I don't have any more illusions. My candidacy would need a miracle."

Speaking about a possible increase in gas prices in Brazil, due to nationalization of oil production in Bolivia, Lula said that any inflation would be absorbed by the state energy monopoly, Petrobrás, and not by the consumer.

Brazil is preparing a new contingent of 850 members of the army, navy and air force for integration with the UN peacekeeping mission in Haiti. Today, the soldiers will take part in a ceremony to mark the completion of their mission-specific training which has included classes in English, French and Hatian Creole, as well as humanitarian and medical work.

BRIEF: Lula Positive About Gas Talks

2006-05-04T20:09:00.000-07:00

Lula commented today that he was content with the outcome of a meeting with the presidents of Bolivia, Argentina, and Venezuela. The talks focused on the recent nationalization of oil production in Bolivia. The leaders' published decision states that gas price negotiations will be "rational and fair," according to a Reuters report.

HEADLINES: May 4th

2006-05-04T11:44:00.000-07:00

Lula, Evo Morales, Chavez, and Kirchner (President of Argentina) met today to dicuss the nationalization of gas in Bolivia, as well as a proposal for a South American gas pipeline.

Anthony Garotinho is still on his hunger strike. Doctors say he is "lucid and oriented," though he has lost 2.6 kg since the strike began on Sunday. Meanwhile, PMDB members called on him to break off the protest.

According to an ILO report released today, Brazil was able to cut child labor by 60.9% between 1992 and 2004. The document holds the country up as an example of the progress being made in this area.

Bolivia Nationalizes Oil Production

2006-05-03T14:00:00.000-07:00

Bolivian President Evo Morales announced Monday (May 1st) that all oil production in the country would be nationalized. The decision affects all foreign firms operating in the country, including the Brazilian gas monopoly, Petrobrás as well as BP, British Gas, Repsol YPF (Spain and Argentina), Total (France), Dong Wong (Korea), and Canadian Energy.

In response to the proclamation, troops took control of the country's petroleum production facilities, according to the General Command of the Bolivian Army. A document released by the Army explains that this action "seeks to assure that the production structures will continue to function, so as to guarantee that normal levels of energy resources will be available to meet both international obligations and to supply the internal market."

According to Folha Online, Petrobrás is responsible for 15% of Bolivia's GDP, and Bolivian natural gas accounts for half of local consumption in Brazil — a total of 26 million cubic meters daily.

Lula met with cabinet ministers early yesterday to refine a strategy for the way forward. Shortly thereafter, referring to his country's significant fossil fuel exports to Brazil, Bolivian Vice President Alvaro García Linera reassured its neighbors that, "That is guaranteed. No one's going to touch it."

The two countries will, however, negotiate prices. Commenting on his plans for working with the Bolivian government, Lula said he understood the move, that the neighboring country was "doing what Brazil had done in the past." The President outlined his desire to negotiate to "defend Brazilian businesses while respecting Bolivian sovereignty." At the same time, the Brazilian leader made clear that while he supports the rights of the Bolivian people, those rights do not allow them to "impose their sovereignty" on Brazil. Lula is set to meet tomorrow with Morales, as well as Argentinian President Néstor Kirchner and Hugo Chávez of Venezuela.

Reactions from Petrobrás have been less cordial. The state corporation has announced plans to "use all judicial instruments to guarantee the interests of the business," according to Ildo Sauer, Director of Gas and Energy for the firm. They are set to release details later today.

Sources:

COMMENTARY: What's Next for the PMDB?

2006-05-02T14:18:00.000-07:00

PMDB presidential pre-candidate Anthony Garotinho is on a hunger strike. It began on Sunday afternoon, and continues today, Tuesday. His stated reason for the protest is what he sees as a concerted effort by the media to "prevent my becoming a candidate for president of the Republic and breaking with this economic model which, over the years, has brought unemployment, hunger, and misery to millions of Brazilians."

However, Garotinho's strategy fails to take into account the very favorable electoral reality in which his party now finds itself. Currently, the PMDB has 74 seats in the Chamber of Deputies (out of a total of 513), and 19 seats in the Senate (out of 54), meaning that the party has the third-largest number of federal legislators, after the PT and the PFL (more, in fact, than the PSDB, which comes in fourth with 71 deputies and 11 senators). Nine governors are members of the PMDB, including those of Rio de Janeiro, the Federal District, Rio Grande do Sul and Pernambuco.

In short, the PMDB is in a relatively strong position nationally. And as if the legislative numbers weren't enough, the two major candidates for the presidency, Lula (PT) and Alckmin (PSDB) are both courting PMDB support. If the PMDB plays its cards right, that sizeable block of legislators — and the constituents which come with them — might well bring a great deal of clout with the PT and the PSDB: the latter two parties' candidates will be looking to those PMDB supporters for their votes come October, offering the PMDB a chance to significantly affect the agenda in the run-up to the elections.

In spite of all the news which suggests that the PMDB is well on its way to an even greater role in national politics — and perhaps even putting a partisan in the vice presidency — Garotinho wants to be president, and he's willing to go on a hunger strike to get it.

Unfortunately for him, Garotinho's tactics are both ineffectual and "immature" — as senate president Renan Calheiros (PMDB) put it. Other members of the PMDB have criticized Garotinho for "exposing the party to ridicule." Meanwhile, the most sympathetic response from within the PMDB came from the president of the party, Michel Temer, who took the diplomatic route, saying, "he isn't exposing the party to ridicule, because the party is giving its official word that it is not in agreement with the strike." So, as far as I can tell, the very best Garotinho will get from his own party is an official attempt to distance itself from his actions.

However, it's not too late for the PMDB to forge an electoral accord with the PT or the PSDB. Both parties appear to remain open to such an arrangement. However, if the PMDB want to reap the benefits of an agreement with Lula or Alckmin, they're going to have to reign in Garotinho. If they fail to do so, they will have to face the distinct possibility that the pre-candidate's actions may indeed expose the party to ridicule. That shot at the vice presidency might not last, and it will be to the detriment of all involved — the PT and the PSDB included — if the PMDB gets shut out.

Sources:

Background on the 2006 Presidential Race

2006-05-01T21:47:00.000-07:00

Note: I have done my best to provide an accurate, up-to-date synopsis of the important people, parties, and alliances related to the 2006 presidential race. The information cited here is as complete as possible. The articles cited below form my main background on the elections, so if there are gaps or errors, please let me know.

The 2006 General Elections will take place in Brazil on October 1st. If no candidate receives a simple majority, there will be a run-off on October 29th. All national offices will be contested: the Presidency and Vice Presidency, the Senate, and the Chamber of Deputies.

President Lula, of the Workers' Party (the Partido dos Trabalhadores, or PT) will seek re-election. He has not yet chosen a running mate, though the current Vice President and — until recently — Minister of Defense, José Alencar left that post so that he would be available to run, should he be chosen. (Under Brazilian law, candidates may not occupy an executive post while running for another. The President is excluded.) Should Alencar not be selected to run with Lula, Ciro Gomes, formerly Minister of National Integration, has recommended choosing a member of the Party of the Brazilian Democratic Movement (Partido do Movimento Democrático Brasileiro, or PMDB), and Lula has said that he would welcome cooperation with the PMDB.

The major opposition coalition is led by former President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's PSDB (the Partido do Social-Democracia Brasileira or Party of the Brazilian Social Democracy). The center-left PSDB has chosen Geraldo Alckmin as its candidate for the presidency. Recently, Alckmin has been trying to build an alliance with the more conservative Party of the Liberal Front (Partido da Frente Liberal, PFL).

The PSDB had made an agreement to put a PFL running mate on the ticket. Recently, however, some PFL leaders have made statements suggesting that their party's top electoral priority is to gain more seats in the legislature, and citing regional conflicts between the PSDB and PFL in Bahia, Sergipe and Maranhão. If the eventual outcome of these struggles means not joining the PSDB ticket, they say, they may sacrifice the opportunity to gain the vice presidency in exchange for more representation in parliament. Other leaders have downplayed such divisions within the coalition.

The case of the PMDB is more complicated. At this point, the party has floated at least two names as "pre-candidates" for the presidency. While none will be officially confirmed until June 10th, at the party's national convention, the possibility of a PMDB candidacy complicates matters for both the PT and the PSDB, since both parties have commented favorably on the possibility of an alliance with the PMDB.

The far-left PSOL (Partido Socialismo e Liberdade, the Socialism and Freedom Party), established by dissenters from the PT has endorsed Heloísa Helena, its founder, for the presidency and César Benjamin for vice president. PSOL is looking to support from social movements and from progressives within the Catholic Church.

In recent polls, when likely voters were asked about Alckmin, 13.7% said they had never heard of him. This means that the PSDB candidate ranks only behind Helena of the PSOL in popular recognition (20.9% have not heard of her). Alckmin has launched a publicity campaign to get his name into the public sphere.

The PSDB is gaining in the polls, however. The same survey projected Lula with 37.5% of the vote and Alckmin with 20.6%. Earlier numbers had Lula with 42.2% and Alckmin with 17.4%.

Stories at Folha Online:

Wikipedia articles on Brazilian politics:

Government Purchases Local Agricultural Products in the Semi-Arid Region

2006-04-23T22:16:00.000-07:00

Brazil's Ministry of Social Development and Anti-Hunger Programs (o Ministério do Desenvolvimento Social e Combate à Fome) announced Saturday, April 22nd the cities which will receive financial support through the program for Direct Local Purchase of Family Agricultural Products. 73 of the 263 municipalities which applied were given grants. All are in the semi-arid region, in the Brazilian Northeast.

The Ministry has a program budget of 9.6 million reais ($4.5 million), and individual prefectures will receive disbursements between 56,400 and 600,000 reais ($26,600 and $283,000). The agricultural products purchased will be used by food pantries, hospitals, and other social programs which distribute food to low-income families.

For more information, see the following Agência Brasil reports:

Senate Commission to Investigate People Close to Lula

2006-04-23T15:54:00.000-07:00

According to Agência Brasil and the Folha de Pernambuco, a Parliamentary Commission of Inquiry (CPI) is in the process of being appointed to scrutinize relatives and close contacts of Brazil's President Lula. This is part of the ongoing investigation into the corruption charges leveled at Lula's Partido dos Trabalhadores (PT). The petition to form the CPI was passed through the Brazilian Sentate on Thursday, the 20th, and eventually received 35 senators' support. A minimum of 27 signatures was needed.

The Agência Brasil story — published on the 20th, shortly after the 35th signature was filed, and re-published today — reports that the Commission will not be finalized until Monday or Tuesday of the coming week, though the apparant strong support which the Senate petition has received means that only a significant reversal could prevent the Commission's formation at this point.

Among other matters, the CPI will investigate the handling of Lula's personal finances before coming to office — a job which was undertaken by the man who is now president of the Serviço Brasileiro de Apoio à Micro e Pequenas Empresas (the Brazilian Service for Small Business Support, or Sebrae), Paulo Okamotto. Also in question are the business dealings of Lula's son, Fábio Luiz Lula da Silva and an allegation by Veja magazine that the President's brother, Genival Inácio da Silva, has peddled influence as a middleman in arranging federal contracts for businesses.

The Folha de Pernambuco reported today that the president of the Ethics Council of the House of Deputies, Ricardo Izar, has expressed doubts about the ability of the CPI to carry out its mission effectively. He cited an upcoming recess, beginning in June, which means that time is short for the Commission.

For more information on the Senate CPI, see

Fórum Social Brasileiro

2006-04-23T15:53:00.001-07:00

Recife is currently playing host to the Second Brazilian Social Forum, which opened April 19th with a participants' march through the city. Unfortunately, the event ended with several injured, including a regional organizer of the MST who was wounded in the hand by a Military Police (PM) officer's gun.

Accounts of the incident vary greatly. In some tellings, the PM were looking for Ivaldo Santos, an MST member from Pernambuco who purportedly asked the PM to keep their motorcycles out of the crowd to protect the children who were there. In another version, Santos actually pushed an officer off his motorcycle. Still other stories have the PM looking for an unnamed assaultant.

Regardless, the opening of the Social Forum has gone on more or less as planned. The opening ceremony was held yesterday, April 21st, at the Federal University of Pernambuco. Events are planned to run until tomorrow, the 23rd, and organizers expect approximately 15,000 participants to take part in the Forum's debates, workshops and lectures.

Stories about the Social Forum can be found on the Agência Brasil main site and at:

MST Protests in Pernambuco

2006-04-23T15:53:00.000-07:00

In preparation for this summer, I'm trying to keep up-to-date with news in Brazil and in Pernambuco, specifically. I'll be putting news stories up on this page as they catch my eye. I'm going with mostly Portuguese-language sources, but I'll try to put an English summary online, too.

On April 17th, members of the Movimento dos Trabalhadores Rurais Sem Terra (MST), or the Landless Workers' Movement staged large-scale protests in São Lourenço da Mata (PE), just outside of Recife. In two actions, protesters stole 15,000 kilos of food — including biscuits and pasta — from two trucks and blocked highways for several hours, according to Agência Brasil.

According to MST coordinator Alexandre Conceição it has been four months since the National Institute of Settlement and Agrarian Reform (Instituto Nacional de Colonização e Reforma Agrária, or Incra) has distributed food baskets to the 350 families of the Chico Mendes settlement. These families apparantly coordinated the interdiction of the trucks.

Members of MST also caused traffic congestion when they blocked roads for several hours both in protest of the lack of food distribution by Incra, and in commemoration of the tenth anniversary of the killing of 19 rural farmers — participants in the MST movement — by the military police.

More information is available online (in Portuguese) at http://www.radiobras.gov.br/materia_i_2004.php?materia=262280&editoria=.

Welcome to Pernambuco News

2006-04-23T15:06:00.000-07:00

Welcome to my new blog. I've realized that I've got a penchant for grabbing every news story I can and putting it online. I don't want to cut down on doing that, but I also don't want to flood the travelogue with things largely unrelated to the trip itself. So, I've decided to put the news stories here.