Brazilian Senate approves Venezuela’s entry to Mercosur, Paraguay's vote pending

Translated by Brian Schwarz

Originally published Wednesday, December 16, 2009, in “Diaro Frontera” of Merida, Venezuela (diariofrontera.com) under the heading Senado de Brasil aprobó ingreso de Venezuela al Mercosur

BRASILIA, BRAZIL – The Brazilian Senate yesterday narrowly approved Venezuela’s entry into Mercosur amidst strong concerns from the opposition regarding Hugo Chavez’s motives. The outcome was 35 votes in favor and 27 opposing.
Adding Brazil’s approval to those of Argentina and Uruguay just Paraguay’s vote remains.

Venezuela signed on to Mercosur in 2006 and its incorporation has already been ratified by Argentina and Uruguay, but final approval is still pending in Paraguay’s parliament, where the majority opposes [admission].

In the Brazilian parliament, approval was blocked for years after Chavez accused its senators in 2007 of being controlled by the United States.

“We don’t need to buy into the racket and the worn-out politics that this quasi-dictatorship, established by Colonel Hugo Chavez, will provoke in Mercosur, a Mercosur in the throes of death”, declared social democrat Arthur Virgilio, part of Brazil’s opposition.

“We do not accept that (Venezuela) enter without [agreeing to] the fundamental commercial and democratic obligations” required by Mercosur: “I speak to the conscience of every one of the senators, don’t let yourselves be pressured by the government to vote [affirmatively]”, opposition conservative senator Heráclito Fortes.

Communist ally of the government Inacio Arruda countered: “Democracy is consolidating more than ever in South America, and what we need to do is expand Mercosur, because the enlarged block plays a more important role in the international context.”

“We have to walk the path of regional integration. I cite as an example the European Union”, declared pro-government senator Aloizio Mercadante.

But even allies of the government were critical of Chavez’ administration: “I vote for the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur, because I vote for what is good for my country. I’m not going to vote because of Hugo Chavez. He is mortal, one day he will die,” said centrist senator Wellington Salgado.

“A very expressive minority said ‘no’ to the admission of Venezuela to Mercosur, and living ex-presidents of the Republic are against Venezuela being in Mercosur,” affirmed Senator Virgilio after casting his vote, referring to but not mentioning by name [former presidents] Senate President José Sarney and [senator] Fernando Collor, both allies of the government but critics of Chavez.

“We hope with patience and optimism that the final formal and legal element will be achieved so that Mercosur may have its fifth star” with the incorporation of Venezuela, Venezuelan foreign minister Nicolás Maduro said last week in Brasilia.

The admission of Venezuela will transform Mercosur into an economic block consisting of 250 million inhabitants, 76 percent of South America’s gross national product and 300 billion dollars [annually] in trade, according to congress’s data.