As Socialist Dream Crumbles, Venezuelans Find Nicolas Maduro 'A Bad Copy' Of Chavez

Nicolás Maduro Moros, President of Venezuela

THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Amid food shortages, rampant inflation and widespread electricity blackouts, many Venezuelans are wondering if Chavez chose the right heir to his revolution

The army has been sent into toilet paper factories, fights for basic foodstuffs have resulted in several deaths and new, multi-million dollar oil tankers are sitting idle in dock. And, despite sitting on the world’s largest oil reserves, Venezuela’s socialist government can’t quite manage to keep the lights on.

Now many in Venezuela are wondering how much longer President Nicolas Maduro, the anointed successor of the country’s firebrand Leftist leader Hugo Chavez, can keep hold of the reins of its crumbling socialist revolution.

Last week Mr Maduro was forced to turn to a well-worn answer for his country’s woes, blaming a US plot to “sabotage the electrical system and the Venezuelan economy” and kicking out Washington’s envoy to the South American country. “Out of Venezuela!” he railed on state television, adding in English: “Yankees go home!”

It was a move copied straight from the playbook of Chavez, the vocal anti-imperialist who passed away in February, and one which killed off any hopes of rapprochement with the US following years of thorny relations.

If that wasn’t enough, Mr Maduro then accused the US Drug Enforcement Agency of orchestrating the presence of 1.3 tons of cocaine seized last month from an Air France plane flying out of Caracas. With the government long accused by Washington of complicity in the drug trade - counter-narcotics officials say some 50 per cent of cocaine in Britain is now trafficked through Venezuela - the bust was likely a US plot using mafias to brand the country a “narco-state”, he said. » | Alasdair Baverstock in Caracas and Hannah Strange | Sunday, October 06, 2013

Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Accused of 'Heresy'
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A senior Iranian cleric has accused Mahmoud Ahmadinejad of "heresy" after saying Hugo Chavez would be resurrected with the 12th imam.


Ayatollah Ahmed Janati, the hardline chief of the Guardians Council, told worshippers at Friday prayers in Tehran: "Those comments on Chavez's return with Christ were heresy."

Janati was referring to comments by Ahmadinejad on March 6 in which he called Chavez a "martyr" who would "return, along with the righteous Jesus and the perfect human."

The last was an allusion to Shia Islam's 12th imam that Iran's majority faith believes will return with Christ to bring peace and justice to the world.

Janati said Iran's clergy had been "upset" by the remarks.

"Should people say whatever comes to mind? I wish (Ahmadinejad) had spent a few days in a seminary before discussing such issues," he said.

"Chavez was a populist and anti-American. His political agenda was completely acceptable. But he was not a Muslim," Janati added. » | Source: AFP | Friday, March 15, 2013

Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad Criticised for Hugging Mother of Hugo Chavez
THE SUNDAY TELEGRAPH: Mahmoud Ahmadinejad has been accused of betraying Islam after he was pictured in an emotional embrace with the mother of Hugo Chavez at the late Venezuelan leader's funeral.


The Iranian president's domestic opponents reacted furiously after photos emerged of him giving Elena Frias de Chavez, 78, a consoling hug at last Friday's funeral in Caracas - at which he also kissed Mr Chavez's coffin.

Religious conservatives said the act insulted Iran's religious dignity and amounted to "haram" – a term used to describe a religiously forbidden act under Islamic rules.

Mohammad Taghi Rahbar, the Friday prayer leader of Iran's second city, Isfahan, told Mehr news agency that Mr Ahmadinejad had "lost control".

He added: "Shaking hands with a non-mahram (unrelated by family) woman, under any circumstances, whether young or old, is not allowed. Hugging or expressing emotions is improper for the dignity of the president of a country like the Islamic Republic of Iran." » | Robert Tait, Middle East Correspondent | Sunday, March 10, 2013

Hugo Chávez Funeral
Venezuela mourns Hugo Chávez, who died after a two-year battle with cancer on Tuesday, at his state funeral in Caracas. Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Cuba's Raul Castro joined about 30 other heads of state to pay respect to the charismatic and controversial leader. Thousands gathered in silence outside the ceremony watching the service on big screens

Hugo Chávez Dies: Venezuela Begins a Week of Mourning
Hundreds of anguished Venezuelans poured onto the streets of downtown Caracas, crying and shouting slogans in support of deceased President Hugo Chavez, after learning of his death on Tuesday.

Eilmeldung! Chavez ist tot
FRANKFURTER ALLGEMEINE ZEITUNG: Der venezolanische Präsident Hugo Chavez ist tot. Dies teilte am Dienstag sein Stellvertreter Nicolas Maduro mit. Chavez hatte an einer Krebserkrankung gelitten.

Der venezolanische Präsident Hugo Chavez ist tot. Dies teilte am Dienstag sein Stellvertreter Nicolas Maduro in einer Fernsehansprache mit. Chavez hatte an einer Krebserkrankung gelitten. » | Quelle: Reuters | Dienstag, 05. März 2013

Hugo Chavez Is Fighting for Life, Says Vice President
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is fighting for his life in a Caracas military hospital 10 days after returning from cancer treatment in Cuba, his vice president said.

Vice President Nicolas Maduro did not provide more details, but the government said last week that Chavez was still suffering from a respiratory infection and that the trajectory was not favorable.

As he presented subsidised homes on state-run television, Maduro said that Chavez was "battling for his health, for his life, and we are accompanying him," adding later that the president was in a "complex and difficult" stage. » | Friday, March 01, 2013

As Hugo Chavez Fights for His Life, Cuba Fears for Its Future
THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venezuela is not the only Latin American nation that is monitoring every moment of president Hugo Chavez's illness. His ally Cuba has relied on him for economic help, and that could soon come to an end.

Away from the constitutional wrangles and impassioned crowds of Caracas, the future of Venezuela after Hugo Chavez is being plotted this weekend in an elegant pre-revolutionary mansion in Havana's old playboy quarter.

The firebrand Venezuelan president is fighting for his life in a nearby hospital, stricken by severe respiratory problems and a lung infection after his latest round of surgery for cancer.

His illness left him unable to be sworn in for his fourth term as president last Thursday, having won a close-fought election in October.

But for his Cuban hosts, much more is at risk than simply the loss of a fellow left-wing Latin American radical who has long venerated Fidel Castro. His death would also put at risk the remarkable oil-fuelled largesse that has allowed Cuba to cling to its experiment in tropical communism.

Thanks to the close personal relationship between Mr Chavez and Mr Castro, energy-rich Venezuela supplies more than 100,000 barrels of dirt-cheap oil a day to Cuba - an estimated 50 per cent of the island's petroleum needs.

Venezuela also hires tens of thousands of Cuban doctors and teachers to work in its barrio slums, propping up the Cuban economy to the tune of some $6 billion a year in total. Without that subsidy, Havana would have long ago been forced to introduce market reforms to its communist regime. » | Philip Sherwell, and Andrew Hamilton in Havana | Saturday, January 12, 2013

Hugo Chavez Names Successor after Cancer Relapse
THE SYDNEY MORNING HERALD: After 14 years in power, the seemingly indefatigable Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has announced a relapse of his cancer and designated vice president Nicolas Maduro as his heir apparent.

In what appeared like a presentation of his final will, the president indicated he would like Maduro to take over the reins of power in a post-Chavez period, urging Venezuelans to vote for him in the next presidential elections.

"You choose Maduro as president of the republic," said Chavez told the nation. "I am asking you this from all my heart."

The 58-year-old leftist firebrand is popular with the long-neglected Venezuelan poor for his oil-funded health and education programs but blamed by his critics for rising crime, corruption and inflation.

A charismatic orator, Chavez was weakened after being diagnosed with cancer last year. The operations and chemotherapy left him bald-headed for a while and he gained weight.

Inspired by Cuba's Fidel Castro, he is a self-sufficient revolutionary, controlling the Western Hemisphere's largest oil reserves and one of the most important foreign sources of crude for the United States.

But Chavez embraced many US enemies over the years, including Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, late Libyan leader Moamer Kadhafi and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad.

He once famously called former president George W Bush "the devil." At first he was warmer toward current President Barack Obama, but Chavez soon returned to type and started portraying the United States again as an evil imperialist power. » | AFP | Sunday, December 09, 2012

Hugo Chávez Wins Re-election Bid in Venezuela

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's firebrand leader, extended his 14-year grip on power last night after seeing off challenger Henrique Capriles in close-run elections.

Chávez, a socialist whose so-called Bolivarian Revolution places him in firm opposition to the USA, won with 54 per cent of the vote.

"Viva Venezuela! Viva the fatherland!" exulted the leftist leader. "The battle was perfect and the victory was perfect."

"I want to include everybody, including sectors of the opposition," said Chávez, 58, wearing his trademark red shirt, said in a tacit acceptance of the best electoral showing against him yet.

With 90 per cent of around 15 million ballot papers counted, Venezuela's electoral council announced Chávez's victory at 10 pm on Sunday night.

Capriles, who was expected to dramatically alter foreign policy and open Venezuela up to private enterprise should he have won, claimed 44 per cent.

He had managed to steal away some of the traditional base of chavismo, poor Venezuelans who live in urban shanty towns.

But Chávez – accused of authoritarianism for his subordination of the judiciary and legislature – prevailed with 7.4 million votes.

He will lead Venezuela, which has the world's biggest oil reserves, for another six years. » | Jonathan Gilbert, Caracas | Monday, October 08, 2012


THE GUARDIAN: Hugo Chávez: a victory of enduring charisma and political mastery: Venezuelan voters keep faith in president and his revolution by extending his 14-year rule, but questions over his health remain » | Rory Carroll | Monday, October 08, 2012

Chavez's Socialist Rule At Risk As Venezuelans Vote
REUTERS INDIA: Venezuelans vote on Sunday with President Hugo Chavez facing the biggest electoral challenge yet to his socialist rule from a young rival tapping into discontent over crime and cronyism.

Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, edged toward the still popular Chavez in final polls thanks to a vigorous campaign that united the opposition and made him its best chance of ending Chavez's 14-year rule.

Chavez has used record oil revenue to support ideological allies around the world, while preaching a fiercely anti-U.S. line, so the election will be watched eagerly from the United States to Belarus and Iran. » | Daniel Wallis and Todd Benson | CARACAS | Sunday, October 07, 2012

Chávez kandidiert erneut in Venezuela

Chávez Wins Venezuelan Women's Hearts
Hugo Chávez, the Venezuelan president, continues to enjoy high popularity among the nation's women, as thousands vote for him and carry his message of socialism to the masses. For 13 years now, Chávez has been able to count on the support of working class women, most notably, in 2002 when they marched for his safe return during a failed coup against him. The socialist leader's female constituency say its because Chávez includes them in the decisions that most affect their lives. At 70 per cent, the majority of representatives on Venezuela's communal councils are women, and the Chávez government funds over 3,400 female-run kitchens that each feed up to 100 women and children per day. Though his supporters say Chávez's initiatives show that feminism and socialism go hand-in-hand, his critics say the Venezuelan president's overtures to women are merely political ploys for continued support. Al Jazeera's Adam Raney reports from Petare.

Venezuela: Chávez dementiert Gerüchte über seinen Tod

SPIEGEL ONLINE: Totgesagte leben länger: In einem Telefoninterview hat sich Venezuelas Präsident Chávez zu Wort gemeldet - und damit die Gerüchte über seinen Tod zerstreut. Sogar seine Mutter machte sich schon Sorgen.

Hamburg - Neun Tage lang hat der an Krebs erkrankte venezolanische Präsident Hugo Chávez kein direktes Lebenszeichen von sich gegeben - prompt machten Gerüchte über seinen Tod die Runde. Am Montag meldete er sich mit fester Stimme per Telefon im staatlichen Fernsehen zu Wort. "Es scheint, als ob wir uns an solche Spekulationen gewöhnen müssen", sagte Chávez. » | vks/Reuters/dpa | Dienstag, 24. April 2012

Chavez Accuses US of Trying to Topple Syria Leader
ARAB NEWS: CARACAS, Venezuela: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is accusing the US government and its allies of provoking violence in Syria in an effort to topple its government. » | Associated Press | Published: Saturday, April 07, 2012, Updated: Monday, April 09, 2012

Hugo Chavez Weeps and Calls on God to Spare His Life

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wept and asked God to spare his life during a pre-Easter Mass on Thursday after returning from his latest session of cancer treatment in Cuba.

Very little is known about the 57-year-old socialist leader's condition, including even what type of cancer he has. Chavez has undergone three operations in less than a year, and received two sessions of radiation treatment.

He says the latest surgery was successful, that he is recovering well and will be fit to win a new six-year term at an election in October. Yet big questions remain about his future, and on Thursday the strain appeared to show.

In a televised speech to the Catholic service in his home state of Barinas, Chavez cried and his voice broke as he eulogised Jesus, revolutionary fighter Ernesto "Che" Guevara and South American independence hero Simon Bolivar.

"Never forget that we are the children of giants ... I could not avoid some tears," the former soldier said, his parents and other relatives looking on from the church rows.

"Give me your crown, Jesus. Give me your cross, your thorns so that I may bleed. But give me life, because I have more to do for this country and these people. Do not take me yet," Chavez added, standing below an image of Jesus with the Crucifix. » | Friday, April 06, 2012

Hugo Chavez 'Soaring Like a Condor' after Operation

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez said he is "soaring like the condor" after an operation for his suspected recurrence of cancer.

Mr Chavez broke his silence since leaving for Havana last week, to send greetings to Venezuela.

"Here I go, soaring like the condor!" he wrote in one of a flurry of upbeat Twitter messages, presumably from his room at Havana's Cimeq hospital where he is believed to be receiving treatment.

However, rumours persist that his condition may be far worse than the official version.

That would have huge implications for the South American OPEC member given that Mr Chavez is seeking re-election in October and has said he would like to rule for another decade or two.

The stakes are high, also, for the region. Cuba, Nicaragua and other leftist governments in the Caribbean and Central America depend on cheap oil subsidies and other largesse from the Chavez government. » | Thursday, March 01, 2012

Chavez retourne à Cuba pour soigner son cancer

LE FIGARO: Une nouvelle tumeur doit lui être enlevée à La Havane. Les spéculations sur son avenir du président au pouvoir au Vénézuela se multiplient.

Hugo Chavez a pris l'avion ce vendredi pour La Havane afin de se faire opérer d'une tumeur maligne, située au même endroit que celle que les médecins cubains lui avaient enlevée en juin dernier. «J'ai pris la décision d'aller à La Havane. Tout est prêt là-bas. Les médecins qui m'ont opéré en juin m'attendent», a indiqué le président du Vénézuela[.]

Mercredi, il a pris le temps de réunir les responsables de son gouvernement et de son parti, le PDVSA, pour les préparer à son absence, qui pourrait se prolonger plusieurs semaines. Il est déjà resté tout un mois hors du Venezuela en juin 2011, n'annonçant son cancer que début juillet. Des informations concordantes semblent confirmer qu'il s'agit d'un cancer du côlon. » | Par Patrick Bèle | vendredi 24 février 2012

Iran's Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez Taunt US over 'Big Atomic Bomb'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: Iran's President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad and Venezuela's Hugo Chavez joked about having "a big atomic bomb" and mocked US disapproval during a meeting between the two allies in Caracas.

Despite their geographical distance, the two countries have forged increasingly close ties, a lot of which is down to their shared anti-Americanism, although concrete projects have often lagged behind the rhetoric.

"One of the targets that Yankee imperialism has in its sights is Iran, which is why we are showing our solidarity," Chavez said during a joint press conference. "That hill will open up and a big atomic bomb will come out," he said of a hill next to his Miraflores Palace.

"When we meet, the devils go crazy," he said, mocking US warnings that Latin American nations should not help the Islamic Republic.

Ahmadinejad concurred: "Despite those arrogant people who do not wish us to be together, we will unite forever," he said.

The two men hugged, beamed, held hands and showered each other with praise. "President Chavez is the champion in the war on imperialism," Ahmadinejad said. » | Barney Henderson | Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Hugo Chavez's Family 'Want Him to Give Up Presidency due to Cancer'

THE DAILY TELEGRAPH: A doctor who fled Venezuela after claiming President Hugo Chavez has only two years to live has said he only spoke out at the request of the radical left-wing leader's own family because they want him to step down.

Salvador Navarrete was labelled "a great con man" by Mr Chavez last month after telling a magazine that the cancer which the Venezuelan leader says he has already overcome was "very aggressive" and probably terminal.

Shortly afterwards, the doctor hurriedly left Venezuela with his family for an undisclosed location, amid reports that police had visited his offices in Caracas.

Now a new statement, released via medical colleagues of Dr Navarrete, threatens to undermine further Mr Chavez's insistence that he has been declared free of cancer and will be fit to fight next year's presidential election.

"Whom [sic] requested Dr Navarrete to make the announcement on Chavez's health was the presidential family, his daughters and his mother; they want Hugo Chavez to give up the presidency so he can rest and spend time with his family", said the statement.

It added that "the presidential family is concerned because his kidneys are not working; he is being submitted to dialysis almost daily, he is being bombarded with steroids". » | Robin Yapp, Sao Paulo | Wednesday, November 02, 2011