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Simeon Mitropolitski is a Canadian analyst, of Bulgarian origin, and a former syndicated columnist with the Bulgarian News Agency (BTA). He is the author of several hundred articles dealing with hot political and economic topics, both national and international.
He was part of the first group of Bulgarian intellectuals and students that began the opposition movement that finally put an end to the communist regime in this country in 1989, and in 1996-1997 participated in international observation teams during the elections in several Balkan countries - Romania, Albania and Bulgaria.
In 2002 Simeon and his family moved from Bulgaria to Canada where they live now in Montreal, province of Quebec. Simeon is a Master of Political Science from McGill University and a B.A. of Political Science and History.
Global Real Estate Project
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Chile: Accidentally in South America?One year after Michelle Bachelet became the first woman-president of Chile, she made clear what would be her economic and social priorities. Export-oriented industrialization and growth, limited-scale social programs focused on particular vulnerable groups, easing the credit restrictions for ordinary people, and openness to the world, these are the main features of her presidency, of what some day may be known as the Chilean moderate-left model. I wish Bachelet a success, for her success may radically change the way the politics is done in South America, and may go beyond the simplistic opposition between authoritarian and semi-authoritarian but pro-market right and no less authoritarian and anti-market left. Some experts say that Chile is only geographically located in South America. In different times this statement had different meanings. Un to the early 1970s, being considered outside of this geographical region had a significance of putting a barrier between Chile, on the one hand, and the authoritarian rightist regimes or radical left movements, on the other hand. During most of the 1970s and the 1980s, this disconnection had a significance of reconciliation between the authoritarianism and the free market, something unusual in the context of South America. Since Bachelet took power one year ago, the radical left on the continent tries to isolate her visions from more radical left movements, personified by Hugo Chavez in Venezuela. It may be surprising, but the current 'left' Chilean government promotes capitalism and international trade. Since Bachelet took office, new free trade agreements have been signed. Couple more is in different phases of preparation. Chile is using in full its capacity of providing high quality copper to the international markets, which right now is in high demand. The economic growth is projected to be maintained at or above 5-percentage threshold. In fact, Chile is already within the group of stable middle-income countries. A democratic country that reaches this economic threshold is practically immune to authoritarian coups and to radical anti-systemic movements. This is another reason for some to look at the country as not completely compatible with the most of the region where it's geographically located. The current economic liberalization in Chile goes hand-in-hand with focused social policy, more akin of what we may see in some European countries, a new confirmation of Chilean model uniqueness. Instead of providing taxpayers' money indiscriminately to people below certain income level, a policy that looks like some 'populist' strategies in neighboring countries, Chile wants to bridge the widening income disparities by providing opportunities for social promotion in terms of equal educational opportunities. Instead of maintaining large and inefficient industries that hide the real situation on the job market, Bachelet tries to establish new international links that will make the local workforce more valuable. In few words, instead of eliminating or downsizing the wealthy segment of the population, Bachelet tries to eliminate the poverty by connecting the poor population to the sources of wealth, the cheap credits and more economic opportunities. By combining these liberal economic and socially sensitive policies, Bachelet shows an alternative way to other South American countries. This is a way where open markets don't mean antisocial policies, and where social concern doesn't lead to radicalism. We can only wish a success to this alternative way, which has proven to be so helpful in Europe and in North America. And, after so many decades of trying to separate Chile from the rest of South America, I wish that these statements turned out to be wrong.
Chile country profile: --------------------
See also the directory of companies providing real estate services in, and general real estate information of Chile.
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