New President for Peru

Peru has a new President Election Ollanta Humala.  Mr Humala was the "left wing" candidate, against the "right wing" Ms Keiko Fujimori.  With Ms Fujimori's concession speech the local stock market stumbled, but then started to climb back upward.  Mr Humala has said that he wants good relations with the United States.

One observer noted

Is Humala Lula[Recent President of Brazil] or Hugo[Chávez of Venezuela]?  Or somebody else?  My view is that we should treat him normally as an elected leader of a key country in the Hemisphere, invite him to the White House, and try to work with him.  A brief tour of Latin America will reveal a revival of leftist governments.  "Leftist" is broad term, however, and we should carefully gauge our reaction.  Policy makers, if they exist, have to come to grips with the political, social, economic, and environmental changes that mark the 21st century.  If not, the train will pull out of the station and we will be left standing.

I hope that we accept and welcome President Humala and give him an invitation to the White House.  Isn't there something about "the law of conservation of enemies".  We need the help of Peru in dealing with the drug trade.  Let us help them help us.  Presently Peru's economic growth of around 8%.  If President Humala can't sustain that growth rate and achieve a more equitable distribution of the wealth he may well be replaced at the next election.  From our perspective, a strong Peru means less illegal immigration to the United States.

Regards  —  Cliff