March 1, 2005
PRETTY FRACTURED CONSENSUS (via Glenn Dryfoos)
With New Chief, Uruguay Veers Left, in a Latin Pattern (LARRY ROHTER, 3/01/05, NY Times)
When tiny Uruguay inaugurates its new president here on Tuesday, it will make a clear break with the country's past. After 150 years in which two moderate parties alternated in power, Uruguay's five million people will have turned decisively to the left.But more than that, the moment is fraught with symbolism for the region. Uruguay's shift consolidates what has become the new leftist consensus in South America. Three-quarters of the region's 355 million people are now governed by left-leaning leaders, all of whom have emerged in the past six years to redefine what the left means today.
They are not so much a red tide as a pink one. Doctrinaire socialism carries the day far less than pragmatism, an important change in tone and policy that makes this political moment decidedly new.
They better hope they're getting Lula and not Hugo. Posted by Orrin Judd at March 1, 2005 5:10 PM
Uruaguay's about as godless as Europe. So no surprise here. My bet's on a Schroeder.
Posted by: Timothy at March 1, 2005 5:16 PMIt's not that left. Go to electionworld.org and look at the parties in the Frente Izquierdo. My guess is after a few years of dopiness, the Uruguayans will return to normal. Timothy is probably right about a Schroeder type being in power.
It is still a middle-class country.
Posted by: Bart at March 1, 2005 5:25 PMOf course, if I'm right, looking at OJ's most recent post, it won't be middle class much longer.
Posted by: Timothy at March 1, 2005 5:38 PM