Brazil’s Influence in Peru’s 2011 Presidential Election

[Derechos]

June 14, 2011 —

Surprising many, the Worker’s Party (PT), the party of the Brazilian President Dilma Rousseff, has sternly supported nationalist Humala, including by sending campaign political advisors to Peru in early January. In fact, Brazilian political strategists were the masterminds behind the dramatic political transformation that Humala underwent since the beginning of Peru's presidential campaign. Despite the fact that this has been reported in various international news outlets, Humala’s political party initially denied any foreign involvement in their campaign strategies.

What is intriguing is that so far Brazil has only used its newly-acquired clout as a mediator in regional conflicts, such as the highly heated disputes between Venezuela and Colombia, the Bolivian internal crisis and the coup in Honduras.

So the question is why act now? What made the PT and the government takes a route that presented so many risks? What is the real motivation of Brazil's closeness to Humala?

Apparently the PT’s leadership decided it was time for Brazil to strategically throw its weight and political know how behind an unlikely candidate. Although Humala did enjoy some popular support, his new image attracted a broader base and gave him some room to maneuver in the international markets.

Strategically Brazil reformed a far left politician into a more socially moderate one and in doing so it has presented the region with a new paradigm; Brazil is a regional power that is demonstrating a willingness to intervene within Latin America when the country’s interests are involved. There are many Brazilian companies that operate in Peru and close relations between the Brazilian government and the new incoming administration of Peru is important for these companies. Brazil and Peru also signed an energy cooperation agreement in 2010 and the agreement allows Brazil to build six hydroelectric plants, including one in Inambari, which is close to the Peruvian-Brazilian border and will generate power for Brazil.

http://www.brookings.edu/opinions/2011/0615_peru_presidential_election_pereira.aspx

[Judi Lynn]

1. Fascinating information, even with the Brookings spineroo. This was material which had been omitted

from ordinary corporate media articles.

This is the second time I've read it since you've posted it. Glad Dilma Rousseff's people saw fit to add some winning perspective to the race. God knows the other side had all the help in the world, even dragging that scuz merchant Rudy Giuliani down there with the promise he would make sure to get rid of their crime, helping his good friend Keiko.

Bye, bye, Rudy.