Sinais positivos de Alan Garcia

Tendo em conta o registo passado de desastrosas políticas socialistas implementadas no Peru por Alan Garcia, as esperanças não devem ser muitas, mas ainda assim os primeiros sinais, pelo menos a nível do discurso, são relativamente positivos: Peru president-elect backs free markets###

LIMA, Peru - President-elect Alan Garcia on Tuesday stressed his support for free markets and said he will vigorously court foreign investment for Peru, but he said he plans to renegotiate a trade accord with the United States signed by the outgoing government.

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Garcia, whose 1985-90 socialist presidency ended in economic ruin and with Peru beset by a growing Shining Path insurgency, said he would encourage the early dissolution of Congress if it proved unresponsive to the people's will. He takes office July 28.

He was asked during a 90-minute news conference whether he got U.S. help against Humala, who was strongly supported by Venezuela's anti-U.S. president, Hugo Chavez.

"I am sure that if I would have received the support of the U.S. Embassy, I would have lost the elections," Garcia said with a big smile. "Mr. Humala lost the election, among other things, due to the support he received from Mr. Chavez."

The 57-year-old politician adroitly turned the Venezuelan leader's vigorous endorsement of Humala to his advantage, and went on to win the runoff 53 percent to 47 percent.