As Political Crisis Looms, Allies Desert Venezuela Leader
By DAVID BLAIR, The Daily Telegraph
June 30, 2008
nysun.com
CARACAS, Venezuela — President Chavez, the "socialist revolutionary" leading a global campaign against America's "empire," is facing a political crisis in Venezuela where old allies have turned against him.
Mr. Chavez, a devoted admirer of Fidel Castro, has forged an anti-American front with leaders ranging from President Mugabe of Zimbabwe to President Ahmadinejad of Iran.
At home, however, Mr. Chavez is in trouble. State elections are due in November and Venezuela's opposition is expected to perform well.
The constitution compels Mr. Chavez to leave office in 2013. He tried to remove the relevant clause and extend his powers last December — but lost the referendum. Billboards across the capital, Caracas, carry his response. "Por Ahora," they read in red capitals, meaning "For Now."
General Raul Salazar, who once served as the president's defence minister, said Mr. Chavez suffers "many hells or infernos inside him."
General Salazar, who campaigned against Mr. Chavez in the referendum, added: "Political leaders go through three stages. First they are governors, then they are statesmen, and then they think they become God and they decide they don't need anyone's advice. I hope to God that he doesn't get to the third stage, but he's probably close."
Under Mr. Chavez, Venezuela's government has become a one-man show. He takes almost every decision himself, working into the early hours.
General Raul Baduel, who also served as defense minister and rescued Mr. Chavez from a coup in 2002, said: "The person who's in charge of the destiny of our nation has become focused on one aim: to perpetuate himself in power even when this damages the country."
Venezuela possesses 80 billion barrels of proven oil reserves and Mr. Chavez wants to build a "socialist society" using the oil money.
About half of Caracas's 5 million people inhabit slums, known as "barrios." Before Mr. Chavez took office in 1999, Venezuela was ruled by the white descendants of Spanish settlers who monopolized wealth and power.
Mr. Chavez sought to redress the balance. He gave the slum-dwellers free health care. Mr. Chavez, who is a twice-elected leader, has won a popular following. For the first time, the impoverished majority feel they have a leader who is on their side.
But these genuine gains may be at risk. Mr. Chavez's spendthrift policies are damaging the economy, with growth this year forecast to halve to 5%. Inflation has risen to 35%.
Mr. Chavez has tried to sweep away the restraints on his power. He has largely ignored a national crime wave, with Venezuela enduring the world's highest murder rate.
If the opposition wins most of Venezuela's 24 states in November's elections, the Chavez era will probably end. If poor voters come to his rescue, however, he might try again to rewrite the constitution and prolong his rule. |
