In 2006, Venezuela had applied for membership as a permanent member of Mercosur (Common Market of the South), seeking a greater integration in commercial, economic and political terms with the other effective members of the bloc: Brazil, Argentina, Paraguay and Uruguay. In 2012, the entry of Venezuelans was made effective, which generated deep discussions about the possibilities involved in Venezuela's entry into Mercosur.
One side of this debate concerns the way in which Venezuela's integration into Mercosur* took place. The Paraguayan government, more specifically the senate of that country, has always opposed the entry of Venezuelans into the bloc, especially in a function of political differences with the government of then president Hugo Chávez, which was succeeded by his follower Nicolás Mature.
At the same time, the then president of Paraguay, Fernando Lugo, was the target of a kind of coup d'état, when only two days ago, the Paraguayan congress removed him from his post through a controversial and ill-explained impeachment process. This episode generated a negative repercussion on the part of the South American governments, which excluded temporarily the Paraguay of Mercosur until a truly democratic electoral process took place in the country. During this time, without the Paraguayan opposition being able to act, Venezuela had approved its admission as a full member of the Mercosur, generating criticism from sectors that view skeptically the growing influence of Chavismo in the America of the South.
Perhaps the great problem existing in the debates about the advantages and disadvantages of Venezuela's permanence in Mercosur lies in the debaters' ideological roots. More conservative thinkers accuse the Chávez and Maduro governments of being undemocratic, although most of these same thinkers have supported the coup in Paraguay, a true example of anti-democratic attitude, while the respective Venezuelan presidents were elected by vote popular.
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However, in general terms, it must be considered that Venezuela's entry into Mercosur has more political motivations than than economic, as it brings together the center-left governments that operate in all countries of this bloc, except for the Paraguay.
In economic terms, the entry of Venezuela increases Mercosur's energy potential, given that Venezuelans are among the largest oil producers and exporters in the world. In addition, Venezuela is a major importer of food and industrialized products, which may, in a way, provide an opportunity for the southern cone export market.
The negative points pointed out involve, above all, Venezuela's fierce foreign policy and its relations with the States United States, which creates uncertainty, given that the North Americans have extensive export and import relations with the Mercosur. It is worth remembering, however, that even with political differences, the United States is the biggest importer of Venezuelan oil and one of the biggest exporters to that country.
For a more concrete assessment of Venezuela's entry into Mercosur, it will be necessary to wait and analyze how the coming years will be, in order to observe how relationships will be established commercials. There are indications that Venezuelans may not accept certain agreements to implement the Common External Tariff (TEC) in relation to certain products, including petroleum, which may be considered a serious problem. In any case, for a better conclusion on the subject, it will be necessary for political scientists and economists to put aside their ideological views and analyze the subject in a more impartial way.
* Venezuela was suspended of Mercosur in December 2016.
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¹ Image credits: Valter Campanato (Brazil Agency) / Wikimedia Commons
By Rodolfo Alves Pena
Graduated in Geography
Would you like to reference this text in a school or academic work? Look:
PENA, Rodolfo F. Alves. "Entry of Venezuela into Mercosur (2012)"; Brazil School. Available in: https://brasilescola.uol.com.br/geografia/integracao-da-venezuela-ao-mercosul.htm. Accessed on June 27, 2021.