战略与国际研究中心-Hemisphere-Highlights,-Volume-IX,-Issue-9_8页_561kb

HEMISPHERE HIGHLIGHTS Summary

Core Content Overview

This summary highlights key political, economic, and social developments across North America, Central America, and South America as reported in the November 2009 issue of Hemisphere Highlights. The focus is on refugee policy in Canada, economic and political shifts in Mexico, political tensions in Nicaragua and El Salvador, electoral dynamics in Chile and Brazil, and media law controversies in Argentina.

North America

Canada

• Refugee Backlog: The Canadian Citizenship and Immigration Ministry announced new reforms to address a significant backlog of refugee applications, which now exceeds 60,000 cases.
• Visa Requirements for Mexican Nationals: New visa rules require Mexican citizens seeking refugee status to apply for a temporary resident visa, proving they have sufficient funds, are healthy, and have no criminal record.
• Cost and Delays: On average, a refugee claim takes 17 months to reach the Immigration and Refugee Board, costing taxpayers around $30,000 per individual annually.
• Criticism: Both the Mexican government and Canadian civil society groups have criticized the reforms, with Mexico considering imposing similar requirements on Canadian citizens.
• Global Applicants: Citizens from 152 countries apply to the Canadian refugee program annually, including those from Sweden and the United States.

Mexico

Dissolution of Luz y Fuerza

• Executive Order: President Calderón dissolved the state-owned electric company Luz y Fuerza (LFC) on October 11.
• Reasons: The decision was based on LFC's financial inefficiencies, including a $3 billion annual subsidy and a $200 billion operating cost deficit over five years.
• Labor Issues: LFC has high labor costs, with 2/3 of its expenditure going to retired employees who receive pensions up to 3.3 times higher than active employees.
• Employee Retirements: Most LFC employees are eligible to retire at 50, while the average retirement age in Mexico is 65.
• Legal and Political Resistance: The Sindicato Mexicano de Electristas (SME) and LFC representatives are challenging the decision through legal means and protests, despite a $20 billion severance offer.
• Political Tensions: The SME had a history of conflict with the Calderón administration, especially after the government rejected their election results.

Central America

Nicaragua

• ALBA Involvement: President Ortega and his party, FSLN, are accused of using newly created businesses under the ALBA trade group to consolidate economic power.
• ALBA Companies: These companies, including Petronic and ALBANISA, are heavily influenced by Ortega's family and close allies.
• Lack of Oversight: Critics argue that the lack of independent oversight makes it difficult to track the flow of aid from Venezuela.
• Central Bank Report: In 2008, Nicaragua received $457 million in aid from Venezuela, but the funds were managed privately by ALBA companies.

El Salvador

• Crime Surge: El Salvador's homicide rate has risen to 3400 in 2009, surpassing 2008's total and projected to reach 77 per 100,000 by January 2010, an "epidemic" level.
• Strategic Collaboration: President Funes approved a plan to increase military involvement in public security by expanding the number of soldiers working with the National Civil Police (PNC) from 1400 to 6500.
• Legal and Ethical Concerns: Critics warn of the risks of militarizing public security, recalling its negative effects during the civil war.
• Military Reservations: The military has expressed caution about the plan, advising Funes to proceed carefully.
• Electoral Challenges: The move has complicated the already crowded electoral calendar, with congressional elections in March and presidential elections in May.

South America

Chile

• Presidential Election: The December 13 presidential election sees Sebastián Piñera of the Alianza por Chile leading, with the center-left Concertación coalition at risk of losing power.
• Split in Concertación: The split between former president Eduardo Frei and breakaway congressman Marco Enriquez Ominami has weakened the coalition.
• Polls: Piñera leads with 31% of the vote, Frei with 23–24%, and Enriquez with 17%.
• Election Format: A second round will be held between the top two candidates if no one wins an absolute majority.
• Political Tensions: The election could mark the end of the two-coalition system that has dominated Chilean politics since 1990.

Brazil

• Olympic Concerns: Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Olympics has raised concerns over security and infrastructure due to recent gang violence.
• Violence in Rio: A gang conflict in October 2009 resulted in 17 deaths and significant damage.
• Government Response: Rio's governor pledged to deploy 40,000 police officers by 2016.
• Investment Outlook: The "Olympics effect" is expected to boost infrastructure, commodities, and housing markets, with $11 billion in planned investments.
• Long-Term Impact: A recent study predicts over $50 billion in economic benefits and 120,000 jobs through 2027 from the Olympics and World Cup.

Venezuela

• Mineral Discoveries: Venezuela announced the discovery of significant coltan and gold reserves, which could boost its economy.
• Strategic Minerals: Coltan is a key component in electronics, and Venezuela's reserves are among the few globally.
• Gold Reserves: Venezuela's gold reserves are estimated at 15,500 tons, valued at $100 billion, making it the second-largest gold reserve after South Africa.
• Nuclear Ambitions: Venezuela seeks to develop a civil nuclear program with assistance from Iran and Russia for uranium management.

Argentina

• New Media Law: A controversial new law on audiovisual communications was passed by the pro-government Senate just before opposition-led Congress takes over.
• Intent: The law aims to replace outdated military-era legislation and "democratize" the media by breaking up monopolies.
• Opposition Criticism: The law is accused of violating freedom of expression, with some articles deemed unconstitutional.
• Enforcement Concerns: The law's enforcement body is under executive control, raising fears of political influence.
• Future Challenges: The opposition plans to modify or eliminate the law once they gain control in December, and affected groups are preparing legal challenges.

Key Authors

• Peter DeShazo – Director
• Phillip McLean – Senior Associate
• Taylor H. Jardno – Program Coordinator
• Clement Carrington – Intern-Scholar
• Zachary Bedard – Intern-Scholar
• Timothy Stackhouse – Intern-Scholar
• Roxanna Vigil – Intern-Scholar
• David Angel – Intern-Scholar
• Michael Graybeal – Intern-Scholar

About Hemisphere Highlights

• Published monthly by the Americas Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS).
• Focuses on international policy issues in the Americas.
• Nonpartisan and nonproprietary research.
• All views and conclusions are those of the individual authors.