Brazilian Senate approves Venezuela's admission to Mercosur

[Judi Lynn]

Source: Xinhua

Brazilian Senate approves Venezuela's admission to Mercosur
2009-10-30 12:40:00

RIO DE JANEIRO, Oct. 29 (Xinhua) -- The Brazilian Senate's Foreign Relations Committee approved on a 12-5 vote Venezuela's admission to Mercosur (the Common Market of the South) on Thursday.

The admission, which had already been approved by Brazil's House of Representatives, will now await President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva's final sanction.

The subject has caused controversy in the committee: while the Brazilian government wants Venezuela to join Mercosur, the opposition is vehemently against it.

Senator Tasso Jereissati from the opposition Brazilian Social Democracy Party said Venezuela should not be admitted to Mercosur because Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's attitudes violated the ideals of democracy on which the bloc was based.

Read more: http://news.xinhuanet.com/english/2009-10/30/content_12360197.htm

[Judi Lynn]

1. Lula and Chavez Celebrate in Caracas Brazil Senate's Vote for Venezuela

Lula and Chavez Celebrate in Caracas Brazil Senate's Vote for Venezuela
Written by Newsroom
Friday, 30 October 2009

In a divided vote, Brazil's Senate foreign relations committee approved this Thursday, October 29, Venezuela's request to join Mercosur despite concerns over President Hugo Chavez's authoritarian style of government. The vote comes when Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva flies to Caracas to sign huge contracts for Brazilian corporations.

Following a heated debate the committee voted 12 to 5 in favor of Venezuela joining South America's main trade block started 18 years ago. The proposal must now go to the floor of Brazil's full Senate, and Paraguay's parliament must also approve before Venezuela can join.

At stake are tens of billions of dollars in trade and investment with the oil-rich nation and potentially affecting Venezuela's geopolitical ties to the region. Denying Venezuela membership could isolate Chavez from South America's major democracies and push him to deepen ties with distant allies such as Iran, Russia, and China, analysts summoned to the committee have repeatedly stated.

President Lula, who traveled to Caracas this Thursday, lobbied hard for Venezuela joining the group that is made up of Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay and Paraguay with Chile, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador and Colombia as associate members.

More:
http://www.brazzilmag.com/content/view/11376/

[EFerrari]

2. Now I'm glad I emailed the bbc about their hit piece this morning.

And this really is good cause for celebration! I hope Brazil and the region is as fortunate in the next Brazilian leader as they have been in Lula. :party:

[John Q. Citizen]

3. That's very cool.

[Vidar]

4. Good for Lula, Chavez, Brazil & Venezuela!

[New Dawn]

5. Note that the opposition "Brazilian Social Democracy Party" is a right-wing party.

Do not be fooled by its name. The same is true with the "Social Democratic Party of Portugal", which is also a right-wing party.

[pampango]

6. ""I admit ... has problems, internal disputes, but the solution is not isolation," said Romero Jucá,

government leader in the Senate. What a wise statement. He was referring to Venezuela, but it could apply to almost any country in the world. It's nice to hear that some South American politicians realize that inclusion rather than exclusion works better to resolve problems.

Mercosur promotes trade between its member countries; this is great for everyone.