Brazil & Southern Cone - January 2013 (ISSN 1741-4431)

The political opposition has gone on the offensive after President José Mujica played a starring role in the ‘inauguration’ of Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez in Caracas on 10 January. The opposition accused Mujica of essentially attending a “political rally” as President Chávez was unable to leave his hospital bed in Havana to attend his inauguration. It has summoned the foreign minister, Luis Almagro, to appear before the permanent commission of congress to explain Mujica’s actions. Senior politicians in the ruling Frente Amplio (FA) batted away the opposition’s criticism, arguing that Mujica was expressing solidarity with the Venezuelan people, while Almagro suggested he was motivated by a lucrative new trade deal.

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