Cornelius Granig President Austro-Uruguayan Society May, 16 th , 2011
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Transcript of Cornelius Granig President Austro-Uruguayan Society May, 16 th , 2011
Cornelius Granig
President Austro-Uruguayan Society
May, 16th, 2011
Samoa
Uruguay
The treasured pearl of Latin America
Agenda
1. Overview
2. History
3. Constitution
4. Political System
5. Challenges
Overview
A brief overview about Latin AmericaDefinition: The region on the American continent in which Romance languages are spoken (Spanish, Portugese)
20 sovereign countries with 600 Mio. inhabitantsNorth America: MexicoCentral America: Costa Rica, Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras,
Panama, NicaraguaCaribic: Puerto Rico, Cuba, Dominican RepublicSouth America: Venezuela, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Paraguay,
Uruguay, Argentina, Chile; Brazil
Not part of Latin America areNetherlands Antilles, Haiti, Belize, Surinam, Guayana, French Guayana,other English or French speaking Carribean states
Mega-Cities
1. Sao Paulo (19.1 Mio. Inhabitants) – world rank 62. Mexico City (18.4)3. Buenos Aires (12.3)4. Rio de Janeiro (11.1)5. Lima (7.7)6. Bogota (7.4)7. Santiao de Chile (5.6)8. Belo Horizonte (4.6)9. Guadelajara (4)10.Caracas (2.6)
Data from 2008http://populataion.mongabay.com
Languages
SpanishIs the main language in 19 of the countries(86 Mio. Mexico, 34 Mio. Colombia, 33 Mio. Argentina, 22 Venezuela, 20 Peru, 10 Cuba, 10 Ecuador, 3 Mio. Uruguay)
comparison: spoken in Spain by 28 Mio. people
Portuguesespoken in Brazil by 163 Mio. people comparison: spoken in Portugal by 10 Mio. people
Many indigenous languagesQuechua in Peru, Kichwa in Ecuador, Nahuatl and 62 other in Mexico, 58 in Colombia, Guarani in Paraguay, Mapudungun in Chile, Aymara in Bolovia, Chile and Rapanui
International Organisations
OAS (Organization of American States)HQ in Washington35 members (all states on the American continent except Honduras)Cubas suspension was revoked in 2009
Andean Pact (Communidad Andino – CAN)HQ in Lima4 members (Peru, Colombia, Ecuador, Bolivia)associated Argentina, Brayil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Chile
MERCOSUR (Mercado Común del Sur)HQ in Montevideo5 members (Argentina, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay, Venezuela)associated Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Perufree trade partners: Egypt, Israel
What is special about most of the countries
Indigenous languages coexist with Spanish/Portugese
Almost all countries had a military government in the 1970s/80s
Almost all countries saw a move to left-winged governments in the last 10 years
Guerilla movements have dramatically decreased
Overview Uruguay
Where is the Eastern Republic of Uruguay?In the north of Argentina (30 min. flight from Buenos Aires to Montevideo)In the south of Brazil, on the Atlantic coast20 hours from Kiev (due to 2 stops)
Very flat, small country176.000 square km, capital Montevideo
3.5 Mio. inhabitantsAlmost half in the capital
Very well developed countryPeso is the national currencyBest rated in life/human development in Latin America2nd least corrupt country in Latin America (after Chile)
4 times soccer champion (1924-1928-1930-1950)
History of Uruguay
1680 Colonel del Sacramento founded byPortugese
18th century Foundation of Montevideo by the Spanish
1830 Independence after a struggle betweenArgentina, Brayil and Spain
1903-1907 Josef Batlle y Ordonez president
1st WW Uruguay in the war against Germany
2nd WW Uruguay in the war against Germany – brokediplomatic relations with them like 21 otherlatin american countries (except
Argentina)
History of Uruguay
1960 The urban guerilla Tupamaros emerges
1968 Jose Pacheco declares state of emergency
1972 Juan Maria Bordaberry became presidentand after 1973-1976 dictator
1976-1981 Aparicia Mendez leads thecivic-military government
1980 Referendum to return to democracy
1981-1985 General Gregorio Conrado Alvarez de factopresident and military dictator
History of Uruguay
1985-1990 Julio Maria Sanguetti president(second term 1995-2000)
Return to democracy
2000-2005 Jose Batlle Ibanez (junior) as Urugayslast president from the Colorados
2005-2010 Tabare Vazquez – first left wingedpresident (Frente Amplio)
2011- José Mujica, a former Tupamarofighter, becomes president
Operation ”Condor”
A campaign of political repression involving assassination and intelligence operations implemented in 1975 by the right-winged dictators of Argentina, Chile, Uruguay, Paraguay, Bolivia and Brazil.
The US was most likely supervising that.
Uruguayans were kidnapped and brought to Brazil and (and some to Argentina) – where they were tortured, and some even killed.
300 people disappeared.
Constitution and country setup
Constitution from 1967 (based on 1930 version)
Presidential representative democratic republicCentralized parliamentTwo chambers of the General Assembly
Supreme court is the highest courtJudges elected for 10 years by the General Assembly
Direct DemocracyChanges of the constitution by referendum
The president
Since 2010 José Mujica- Elected by direct popular election- Is head of state and head of the government- 5 years in office, without possible immediate re-election
- Commander-In-Chief of the army- Has the right to veto against laws
- Can declare the state of emergency- Prepares the state budget
President was 10 years in jail- better known as “El Pepe”- was a leader of the Tupamaros National Liberation Movement, a
revolutionary group that, like Robin Hood, robbed from rich businesses and banks
- drives by himself in a Volkswagen Beetle to the office- donates 87% of his salary to poor people
The vice president
Since 2010 Danilo Astori- elected by the public together with the president- in case of the absence of the president, his office is exercised
- Former minister of economy- He is the leader of the Asamblea Urugay party, which is a social
democratic party, and part of the ruling Frente Amplio
- Relatively unimportant politicalposition with no big history
- Since 1934 in the constitution
The parliament (Asamblea General)
Chamber of Deputies- 99 members- Elected for 5 years- Proportional representation
Chamber of Senators- 31 members- 30 members elected for a 5 year term- and the vice president
The last election was in 2009.
Political parties- Broad Front (Frente Amplio) – left winged coalition- National Party (Blancos) – right-winged conservative party- Colorado Party (unites a conservative, moderate and social
democratic group of votes)
Economy
In the shadow of the Argentina crisis- 2002 big economy crisis, after Argentina collapsed (-12% GDP)
but- Uruguayan beef is a worldwide brand- Uruguayan wine out of Tannat grapes is a best-seller
- well educated workforce for IT offshore industry- Tourism is growing
Important trading partners- Exports: Brazil (20%), China 9.45, Argentina 8, Germany 5- Imports: Argentina (20%), Brazil 17, China 10, US 10
Financial system and currency- Peso Uruguayo is the national currency- No dollar fixing since 2002 (at this time the currency lost 90%)- dual system of national and offshore banks
Economic overview – MERCOSUR states
Country Inhabitants Mill. sq km BIP %
Argentina 31.9 2.767 11.9
Bolivia 7.1 1.099 0.7
Brazil 147.4 8.512 38.7
Chile 13 0.757 3.4
Paraguay 4.2 0.407 0.7
Uruguay 3.1 0.177 1.1
Latin America 427.3 19.949 sq km 100%
Source: Inter-American Development Bank, 1990(Mercosur members and associated states Chile and Bolivia)
Social welfare
“Switzerland” of South America- This dramatically changed after 2002 (e. g. poverty of children
increased between 1999 from 11% to 24% in 2002)- Social spending is still among the highest in the region
Challenges
Economic crisis, and the fight against it(Uruguay was almost bankrupt in 2002)
Conflicts with Argentina
Sellout of water-reserves of Montevideo (Guarani) andother state-owned companies
Poor people, who live from waste collection
Punishment for the heads of the military dictatorship
How to enjoy Uruguay
Milonga The tango comes from Uruguay (the Argentinians deny it) – Milongas are
dancing events that start at midnight, all over the country.
CandombeIs the psychodelic drum music of the descendants of the slaves, that came in the 18th century. Almost all over the year, people gather in Montevideo and walk with their drums through the city.
Punta del EsteIs the “Marbella” of Latin America.
Mate teaIs a “social” drink, that everybody has with him on the street or on the beach.
Best known things
Dulce de leccheA very thick caramel based spread.
Uruguayan beefThe best part of Asado.
Ruben Rada“Quien VA A Cantar”.
NTVG (No te va gustar)“Sólo De Noche”.
PoloA team sport for horse lovers.
About me
Cornelius GranigPresident of the Austro-Uruguayan Society
StudiesPolitical Science (University of Vienna)e-Government and New Public Management (Danube University Krems)Banking (Kiev)
Professional ExperienceStarted as radio and print journalistSince 15 years manager in international companies
In Ukraine since 2008Deputy Chairman of the Board ofRaiffeisen Bank Aval, Kiev