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Montevideo, the 26.07.2003
Current developments.
The
political system of Uruguay applied in the last 10 to 15 years as the
most stable in Latin America. But now harder times threaten. The center
right-wing coalition under president Jorge Batlle possesses a broad
majority, but the economic policy conforming to market trends of
"Switzerland Latin America" pushes since beginning of the yearly
increasingly on contradiction. Principal debt carries the crisis
over-sloshing from Argentina, which intensified for four years the
persisting recession strongly. Meanwhile one counts on a minus from 6
to 7 per cent with the economic growth for 2002.
In April 2002
100,000 humans in Montevideo met, in order to protest against the
"neoliberale" policy of the government, in June paralyzed a
24-stuendiger general strike the country. For the first time since
1984, when the military government at that time before the collapse
stood, trade unions and enterprises pulled on the same strand: They
demand dirigistische measures for the protection of the social
possession conditions, the national industry and measures for the
setting in motion of the economic situation in motion. Also they resist
tax increases and privatisations.
President Batlle at the beginning
of June the nerves went through: It called the Argentinier in an
interview of Bloomberg TV a "heap of gauner  from first to the latter"
and did not save not at bad words over of Argentina president Eduardo
Duhalde. However Batlle had believed, the microphone was already
switched off. On a kind Canossa course after Buenos Aires it apologized
with Duhalde and the Argentine people under tears.
At the end of of
2001 was stopped the export to Argentina, beside Brazil the most
important trade partner, nearly completely. Also the financial
entwinements with the neighbour affected themselves now negatively.
Many Argentinier fell back to their assets in Uruguay, after the
government in Buenos Aires let the savings accounts close. Up to 1.5
billion US dollar flowed off in the first two months of the yearly 2002
from the uruguayischen bank system. In order to meet the devaluation of
the Argentine currency, the uruguayische government decided shortening
the public expenditures. But it did not help anything.
On 20 June
Uruguay had to release the course of the national currency, long with a
certain range was bound ten years for which to the US dollar. The peso
fell immediately after it by 15 per cent, added then however again
easily.
At the end of June granted the IWF Uruguay a new credit over
1.5 billion dollar, in order to overcome the recession and to contain
the economic crisis in South America. Together with one in March
assigned credit the total loan thereby already amounts to 2.28 billion
dollar.
With regard to foreign policy a controversy with Cuba
provided for attention: The UN human right commission in Geneva had
accepted a resolution with limited majority, brought in from Uruguay,
in which Havanna was requested to grant to the own citizens political
fundamental rights and to leave a UN special correspondent in the
country. Of Cuba head of state Fidel Castro insulted thereupon of
Uruguay presidents Batlle as "verkommenen Judas" and "lakaien of the
USA". Batlle broke the relations off with Cuba and requested the Cuban
Ambassador in Montevideo to leave the country.
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