Natasha Niebieskikwiat
07/02/2020 - 13:28
- Clarín.com
- Politics
At his first Mercosur summit as president, Alberto Fernández found himself on Thursday as never before with the strong differences that exist with his partners in the bloc regarding free trade, democracy in Venezuela and the crisis in Bolivia. A route in which the current governments of Brazil, Paraguay and Uruguay began to travel with the Mauricio Macri administration, but from which Kirchnerism fell in this fourth term, now Fernández.
It was the Brazilian Jair Bolsonaro who openly referred to the three issues: together with Mario Abdo Benítez he asked for agreements with countries that Argentina rejects - with South Korea, Canada, Lebanon and Singapore - but he embodied the demand that Venezuela recover democracy . At the same time, he embraced the presence of Jeanine Añez, the provisional president of Bolivia - a country associated with Mercosur - while Fernández is the only one who does not recognize her, considering that she emerged from a coup against Evo Morales, a refugee in Argentina. The Argentine president, meanwhile, made a reference of his "respect" towards those who do not think like him.
With a markedly diplomatic and internationalist tone, which contrasted with his personalism and attacks when he did not like something, Bolsonaro called for a "modern Mercosur". And in this sense, he spoke of the need "to carry out internal reforms" and demanded to lower the common external tariff - a claim in which Argentina also maintains differences with its partners - and that the sugar sector be incorporated into the bloc's free trade, an old claim from Brazil.
On Wednesday, Foreign Minister Felipe Solá had said in his speech to his colleagues that Argentina "is not going to obstruct the agreements" that are being negotiated, but asked to speak about them.
In alphabetical order by country and before the scheduled time, Alberto Fernández opened the XLI meeting of presidents this Thursday, which, like all meetings, is virtual due to the COVID 19 pandemic. On the economy in times of pandemic, he said: "We have had to govern in a time of great inequality, of great illness, and we can make that bad weather a better opportunity," he said. "We are the continent with the most unequal income distribution, and we have to face that challenge knowing that we are facing the greatest world crisis," he said.
"I hope that in a short time we can overcome the pandemic. We will overcome it with the world, not alone. As Pope Francis says, no one is saved alone. As much as some have luxury cabins, we are all on this ship reeling in the pandemic, "said Fernández. Latin America is today the region hardest hit by contagions, the dead and the economic crisis of the coronavirus. The President asked to unite to "meet the challenge" in a way that leaves out those who "seek their luck individually."
Without mentioning his Brazilian counterpart, Fernández insisted on the idea of working together: "I have the respect they deserve for all the leaders in the world and I know that I do not think the same way to many leaders. And I know that my time in Argentina is only one step and I have no right to frustrate the continental aspiration that we have simply because I do not think the same. I am here so that we unite, so that we work together. "
Last Friday, in a virtual dialogue with Lula da Silva in which he said that he missed being in power, Hugo Chávez, Evo Morales and others, he affirmed that if the PT leader ruled, another would be Argentina's link with Brazil. At the same time, it was the only country in the bloc that abstained in an OAS vote that again asked for institutional respect for the Nicolás Maduro regime, who is headed for other tailor-made elections, this time legislative.
The Final Declaration of Mercosur that the heads of state signed highlights in the first of its 34 points its commitment to "full democracy, fundamental guarantees and the rule of law", and "protection of human rights". But it was Bolsonaro who explicitly said he had "expectations" that Venezuela "return to the path of freedom as soon as possible."
The bad relationship between Fernández and Bolsonaro is long-standing. The Brazilian did not spare any distractions. He said several times that the return of Kirchner to power was the arrival of socialism in Argentina. He did not come to Fernández's inauguration or invite him to the summit of the bloc on December 5 when Alberto F. was already elected.
Unlike his partners at this summit, Alberto F. decided to highlight his friendship with the Lacalle Pou family and with the Spanish Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy. Borrel was present at the summit this Thursday where the countries reaffirmed their "commitment to permanent efficient coordination to sign the advance of the coronavirus"
Lacalle Pou, who assumes the pro tempore presidency of Mercosur from Paraguay, received praise from his peers. "The block stays in excellent hands," Bolsonaro especially told him. "Count on my determined support, President. Brazil will be at your side," he closed.