Changing Political Tide in South America: Leaders gather in Chile to launch new PROSUR bloc
Updated 15:50, 26-Mar-2019
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02:25
Leaders of South American countries have launched a new political organization called PROSUR, it will replace a group championed by Socialist leader Hugo Chavez of Venezuela. PROSUR will reflect the continent's shift to the right. CGTN's Joel Richards has the details.
In South America, the political pendulum has swung from left to right. On Friday many leaders met in Santiago, Chile, for the inaugural meeting of a new regional bloc which they say is committed to democracy, market economies and that is free of ideology.
SEBASTIAN PINERA CHILE PRESIDENT "We want this forum to have a strong and clear commitment to the principles of freedom, of democracy, and of the respect for human rights. That is not ideology, those are values and principles."
The forum for the progress of South America, or Prosur, did not invite Venezuela to participate, and neither Bolivian President Evo Morales nor Uruguayan president Tabare Vazquez attended.
The Prosur Initiative in effect replaces UNASUR which was largely supported by Venezuela's late president Hugo Chavez at a time when leftist governments were in power in the region.
But UNASUR's building now stands vacant in Quito, Ecuador, as the political tide has changed. Many countries have withdrawn from the organization. President Lenin Moreno hopes the building will be transferred to Ecuador and used as an indigenous university.
Yet despite the backing of leaders taking part, many analysts like Bruno Binetti believe Prosur could make similar mistakes to Unasur.
BRUNO BINETTI RESEARCH FELLOW, INTER-AMERICAN DIALOGUE "Many of these leaders that are pushing for Prosur initiative criticized Unasur for being a politicized institution that responded to the interests of left-wing leaders such as Hugo Chavez or Lula in Brazil. I think they are doing the exact same thing with Prosur. How would this institution survive after the incumbents leave office. That is the key question. If we are going to create new institutions every time there is a political shift in Latin America then we are not going to build real sustainable integration."
Prosur has stated its aims are regional integration, and this new bloc could see trade agreements like the Pacific Alliance expanding. But many question marks over its motivation remains.
Joel Richards, CGTN, America.