Venezuela's politics


Yet another method to entrench the president's power

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I think this is great for the world. Without places like Venezuela, North Korea, Cuba, Zimbabwe, and Greece, people around the world would romanticize socialism. But because we have these countries, whenever someone begins to romanticize socialism, we can always point to them and say: look, this is the end result.
Sucks for the Venezuelans of course, but I don't feel that sorry for them because any fool could have told you as far back as 2000 what Chavez was going to become eventually, and he had 60% of the vote in his election then.
So keep at it Chavez, I totally support you keeping the rest of the world free from socialism!


Recently a CNN reporter showed an interview made to the then President elect Hugo Chavez in 1998. The four questions he asked were responded by Chavez using more or less the following words:

Will you run for President when your term is over? H.Ch.: No, I may even stand down before this term is over.

Do you have any plans to curb private property? H.Ch.: No, private property will be respected durinhg my mandate.

Do you plan to curb private media? H. Ch: No, the state has enough media representation as it is, I respect the independence of private media.

Are you a democrat? H. Ch.: Democracy is the main foundation of our government agenda.


Chavez is clearly running Venezuela into the ground, and as others below have pointed out communism clearly suits his purposes for power.

Let's not get crazy with the Obama analogies though:

@valwayne: I'm not sure how the "left-wing elites" have corrupted Senate rules. Republicans still have the filibuster if they need it, right? I'm also not sure where the massive corruption = voter fraud is coming mean ACORN? Couldn't the centre-left retort that Florida 2000 was something similar? Also, the misuse of the media is common to all modern US presidencies, just ask Nixon and Bush.

@O_Fidalgo: Same here. If I am not mistaken the massive involvement in finance and the auto industry started under a man named George W. Bush...and I'm not sure how requiring US citizens to purchase health insurance from private companies per 1990s Republican strategy equals a government takeover of health care.

By all means, criticise Obama. If you consider Republicans/conservatives your team, support your team. Vote against the Dems (you'll probably win something in November). But if you really oppose an extension of executive power, then please reach beyond partisanship and the left/right mode of thinking to truly wake Americans up to something new. We could cut Social Security, Medicare and the defense budget, institute a VAT and a balanced budget, and close Guantanamo, for starters. But please lets stop pretending that the US moving to something like the UK or Germany is a Communist takeover. It's shrill and a little bit insulting to those actually living under dictatorship.


This guy has lost his mind. Venezuelans need to rise up and stop this madman from turning the once so-called comercial mecca of latin america, into a crime infested country... where crimanals go to retire! Wake up and standup from this power hungry POS.. btw if anyone is wondering my nickname is Chavez´s blackberry pin if anyone cares to add him ;-)


The millions of Russians, Chinese, Vietnamese, Cambodians and countless others who died because of similar shenanigans are turning in their graves, for their deaths were clearly for naught.


Chavez is a professional hitman. He uses all the tools of the state to destroy the people he despises. He insults them on TV, steals their properties, and uses the judiciary to send them to jail. And if the judge opposes Chavez orders, the judge is sent to jail. Even more pathetic is the behavior of the self-described “international community” and the NGOs, all of them looking the other way as one “of their baboons” is making Venezuela another “socialist gulag”.


@lev.D : clearly you had a horrible childhood and for that I apologize. Whoever mistreated you should be put in jail.... but please my friend stay in venezuela or go live in North Korea, because the world doesnt need more hatemongers or resented people.... we have enough of those


Chavez is moving to sieze complete control and become officially what he already is unofficially, the Dictator of Venezuela. Its hard to see how he can be stopped peacefully. Its hard to see how he can be stopped period. Venezuelans have let him usurp to much power. He's a warning to the rest of Latin America, especially those nations where he has allies following in his footsteps. He's also a warning to the U.S.! Our own Left Wing Elites have shown contempt for the will of the people, corrupted the rules of the Senate to force their way, engaged in massive corruption with public money to buy votes for their programs, and attacked the press that reports and questions their abuse of power. Much of what they've done isn't that different from the way Chavez started a decade ago. If the voters don't reject them early at the ballot box.....well you can see where it can end?

Nirvana-bound is a twit

@Artevelde: Exactly what I was thinking.

@Kochevnik: Balanced reponse. There are plenty of Obama policies I don't like, but it's a bit tiresome when some people come up with an Obama analogy to everything bad that happens in the world.

@YanquiGoHome: I was wondering where the Chavista trolls went as well. By this point, I'd expected the comments section to be full of the drivel of a bunch of pinko idiots enraged that a non-Venezuelan author dare have an opinon about their idiot pinko dictator.


Rising up is all very well. Do you now realise why he has been buying arms for the last decade? And, as April 2002 showed, he is not afraid to give the order to fire on unarmed civilians


I feel very sorry for the people of Venezuela . It will take a generation to make right the damage Chavez has done and will do before he is gone . However , when he is removed and how he is removed seem to be problems without solution . His model is the trainwreck known as Cuba where vicious thugs have kept the people enslaved for over 50 years . This will only get worse , probably much worse before there is even the glimmer of hope . I feel very sorry for the people of Venezuela.


It is sad on one hand what desaster that guy has created. However, it is even worse when you consider the unique historical opportunity he had, especially the resources given by the oil bonanza. Venezuela could have come out of this decade renovated and well set for the future. In reality it has been set back by a few decades.


Carmenere... completely understandable comment but freedom and democracy dont come by themselves and if the venezuelan people dont wake up and fight (whether it be in arms or with politics) venezuela will become a failed state, and the country that so many used to love will become nothing more then a country club for corrupt politicions and other criminals alike


Its the road America is walking towards. We've got our own Chavez-esque administration in the White House.
Obama is as much a believer in free markets and capitalist principles as Chavez is. Nationalization of Auto Companies, Banks, Health Care, Financial Regulation etc.

They're both big government ideologues.

Clara T

Certainly, Mr Chavez is trying to entrench power and comunism suits him well. A system where he's able to control absolutely everything and stay in power as long as he wishes.

Let's give him a chance to explain by himself how he sees the current situation in his country . In this interview Stephen Sakur from BBC speaks to Mr Chavez


O_Fidalgo, I find it puzzling to see Obama criticised as a big government ideologue when, it seems to me, in the BP fiasco he has been under fire for just the opposite, i.e. caving in to capitalist principles.

Charles Muller

I know the Cardinal and Archbishop of Caracas has been called to speak before the house of representatives nothing new under the sun, anyone ho says anything truthfull may bother the president and might be persecuted by the powers of the government. Luke 21.12"they will lay hands on you and persecute you. They will deliver you to congress and prisons, and you will be brought before delegates and governors, and all on account of my name.This will result in your being witnesses to them. But make up your mind not to worry beforehand how you will defend yourselves. For I will give you words and wisdom that none of your adversaries will be able to resist or contradict".



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