The leftist ideological profile of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s administration, so skillfully toned down during his election campaign, is now emerging with ever greater clarity. This can be seen in the leftist political bills and projects announced and set in motion with every passing day.

Foreign policy is one area where the ideological orientation of the Lula administration is more clearly discerned. It is a blatant example of duplicity in action.

1. Negotiations of the FTAA
Brazil’s way of conducting FTAA’s negotiations, which it co-chairs with the U.S., is certainly a paradigmatic signal of the true ideological substratum of the Lula administration and a prototypical example of its way of acting.

2. Impasse in Trinidad and Tobago
The leftist orientation of the Lula da Silva government was evident at aan Ocober meeting in Trinidad and Tobago. A Brazilian proposal was presented in the name of Mercosul and sought to fragment the FTAA. Most countries saw it as an attempt to sabotage the FTAA and was therefore rejected. Mercosul itself split leaving Brazil only with the support of Argentina.

3. Brazilian left rushes to defend proposal
The diplomatic maneuvers and the subsequent isolation of Brazil have generated much controversy with unusually great repercussions in the media.

Press reports emphasized the ideological substratum of the country’s position and the desire to see everything that drives Brazil away from the United States as a triumph.

4. The left organizes against the FTAA
Concomitant with the diplomatic maneuvers described above, the left is mobilizing to favor an intransigent position on the FTAA. This mobilization has been greatly reinforced counting on the support of the “social movements” such as the MST and the Pastoral Commission on Land (CPT) - all of which have strong links with the PT and Catholic progressivists.

5. Moving toward a strategic goal of the left
After months of covering up its true ideological position, it is not hard to see that the government of President Lula da Silva is meticulously pursuing its old leftist goal of not adhering to the FTAA and if possible rendering the agreement unviable. This goal is strategically vital to bring about a profound change in the balance of power on the South American continent.

That concludes this issue of LulaWatch. Until next time,

Sincerely yours,

C. Preston Noell III

Vol. I

Jan No. 1 / Jan No. 2

Feb No. 3 / Feb No. 4

Mar No. 5 / Mar No. 6

Apr No. 7 / May No. 8

May No. 9 / June No. 10

July No. 11 / August No. 12

Sept No. 13 / Oct No. 14

Nov No. 15 / Dec No. 16

Vol. II

Jan No. 1 / Feb. No. 2

Feb. No. 3 / Mar. No.4

Jun. No. 5 / Sep. No.6

Nov. No. 7 / Nov. No.8

Vol. III

Jan. No. 1 / Apr. No. 2

Apr. No. 3 / May No. 4

July. No.5

Vol. IV

Feb. No. 1 / Dec. No.2

Dec. No.3 / Dec. No.4

Vol. V

Jan. No. 1 / Feb. No.2

Feb. No.3 / Mar. No.4

Mar. No.5 / Apr. No.6

May. No.7 / May No.8

June. No.9 / July No.10

August. No.11 / Sep. No.12

Oct. No.13 / Oct. No.14

Vol. VI

Jan. No. 1 / Mar. No.2

Lula Fooling the World
Lula's party covered up its
historic radicalism during the
elections, but now in power is
gradually re-nationalizing formerly
privatized assets.

Brazil says NO to Gun Control
- October 27, 2005
The international left was monitoring with great expectations the results of Brazil’s weekend referendum on a nationwide ban on the sale of guns and ammunition. A Yes vote would have been celebrated as a victory for gun control not only in Brazil but worldwide.