After numerous false dawns, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has pinned hopes on Brazilian counterpart Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva smoothing the path for his country's full membership of Mercosur before leaving office next year.
Venezuela joined the economic bloc in 2006 and won ratification from Argentina and Uruguay, two of the four founding members, soon afterward. But he faced opposition from Brazil and Paraguay after his fiery rhetoric upset lawmakers and politicians in power.
The last major hurdle was crossed after Lula, pleased with lucrative contracts in Venezuela, persuaded Brazilian senators and congressmen to drop their objections. Brazilian parliamentarians ridiculed Chavez's populist style of government and questioned his democratic credentials.
For Chavez full membership is a matter of prestige and scoring points over an opposition disdainful of his Bolivarian revolution.
Most officials in Mercosur countries recognize Venezuela's membership will offer increased opportunities in the country's oil-fueled consumer market and that living with Chavez within Mercosur will have its rewards.
In December, after the Brazilian hurdle was crossed, Mercosur officials raised Venezuelan hopes that it could be crowned a full member by March. That date passed and Paraguay still remains undecided over Chavez.
In talks Wednesday in Brasilia, Chavez and Lula agreed to strengthen the newly formed Union of South American Nations but there was no explicit Brazilian commitment it will push harder for ratification of Venezuelan membership of Mercosur.
Chavez was persistent over the next steps that Lula should take before leaving office following the Oct. 3 election.
"President Lula da Silva was one of the main promoters of Venezuelan incorporation to Mercosur and I expect he can see this aspiration effectively crystallized before he finishes his current mandate," said Chavez.
He hoped Lula would intercede with Paraguay to secure its ratification of Venezuela's membership. The issue is awaiting ratification by Paraguayan congress, which is dominated by right-wing opposition to President Fernando Lugo's government.
Venezuela hopes Lula will exert influence on the Paraguayan opposition to push for ratification. As a last resort, Venezuela also has hinted that majority ratification by three of the four Mercosur members should be sufficient to bring it on board as a full member.
Mercosur's trade expansion goals are tied to the ambitious political and economic integration plans announced by Unasur, which will meet Tuesday in Buenos Aires.
Former Argentine President Nestor Kirchner, husband of President Cristina Fernandez de Kirchner, is widely tipped to be nominated as the head of Unasur.
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