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FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
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Latin Neighbors Mistrust Chavez

'Chavismo' unloved in region, which is making democratic strides

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(Newser) – Hugo Chavez's regional popularity is largely hot air, a Pew survey shows, concluding that the Venezuelan president is “widely mistrusted.” In large numbers, Latin Americans also agree that “most people are better off in a free market economy”—including 72% of Chavez’s countrymen, Weekly Standard’s Duncan Currie notes.

The right-leaning writer says Chile and Brazil are experiencing major economic growth sans Chavez-style socialism; Currie is careful to note the democrats leading those countries are “leftists.” And Chavez's acolytes in Bolivia and Ecuador rose to power not on ideology but “on practical grievances”: Their countries are the poorest. Pew also saw the US' image “eroding” throughout Latin America.

Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets prior to deliver a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Venezuela's Congress gave initial approval to President Hugo Chavez's constitutional reforms. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez greets prior to deliver a speech at the National Assembly in Caracas, Wednesday, Aug. 15, 2007. Venezuela's Congress gave initial approval to President Hugo Chavez's...   (Associated Press)
In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television program in Caracas, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Chavez announced the acquisition of Russian sniper rifles. (AP Photo/HO/ MirafloresPress)
In this image released by Venezuela's Miraflores Press Office, President Hugo Chavez speaks during his weekly radio and television program in Caracas, Sunday, Aug. 19, 2007. Chavez announced the acquisition...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez flights over the Caroni river near Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez flights over the Caroni river near Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007. (AP Photo/Miraflores Press Office)   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, speaks with Bolivia's President Evo Morales near Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 during Chavez's weekly radio and TV show called
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez, left, speaks with Bolivia's President Evo Morales near Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela, Sunday, Sept. 9, 2007 during Chavez's...   (Associated Press)
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez jokes with children at a meeting with members of his party in Caracas, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. Chavez said that the leader of Colombia's largest rebel group Manuel Marulanda commander of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, FARC,...
In this photo released by Miraflores Press Office, Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez jokes with children at a meeting with members of his party in Caracas, Saturday, Sept. 8, 2007. Chavez said that the...   (Associated Press)
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