Hugo Chavez

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December 2007
- Argentine Prez Campaign Cash Tied to Chavez
  
  Guardian (UK) | Dec 14, 07 4:29 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - US prosecutors are accusing the Hugo Chavez government of sneaking donations to the election campaign of new Argentine President Cristina Kirchner, writes the Guardian . A suitcase filled with $800,000, seized at Buenos Aires airport , was on its way from Caracas to Kirchner, one of the men involved in the delivery says. Kirchner angrily denied the allegations, calling them "garbage in international politics." More »
- Chavez Calls Time for Venezuela
  
  BBC | Dec 10, 07 9:30 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - In an apparent move by Hugo Chavez to thumb his nose at Washington, Venezuela turned back the clock for good yesterday. The shift creates a single-nation time zone 4 hours and 30 minutes behind Greenwich Mean Time. Supporters of the move say waking up earlier will boost productivity, but others see it as an anti-US gesture, reports the BBC. More »
- Not So Noble After All
  
  Newsweek | Dec 8, 07 4:23 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Why was Hugo Chavez so princely in defeat last week, never demanding a recount after losing at the polls? Because he did try to fix the vote behind closed doors, and relented only when officials slimmed the margin of defeat to help him save face, writes Newsweek's Jorge Castaneda. More »
- Chavez Loses Vote in Upset
  
  Associated Press | Dec 3, 07 2:57 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - In a stunning upset, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has lost a referendum that would have allowed him to run for president as many times as he pleased. Foes danced in the streets as results were announced early today. Venezuelans rejected the sweeping measures 51% to 49%. "This was a photo finish," Chavez told reporters, adding that he has "heard the voice of the people and will always continue to hear it." More »
- Exit Polls Give Chavez Victory
  
  Reuters | Dec 2, 07 8:06 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Chavez supporters waved flags in the streets today as exit polls showed him winning a referendum by six to eight points, Reuters reports. Anti-Chavez forces rejected the numbers, leaked by government-connected sources. "According to our information, it is a statistical tie," said the popular mayor of Caracas. He called the difference "two points up, two points down." More »
- Venezuela Calmly Goes to Polls
  
  Reuters | Dec 2, 07 3:07 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Polls are orderly today as Venezuelans decide on an amendment that may make Chavez president for life, Reuters reports. Most surveys say voters are split 50/50 on the referendum, which Chavez vows will win by 10 points and usher in “21st century socialism.” Opponents say the changes, which include ending Chavez’s term limit, would make the anti-American president a dictator. More »
- Chavez Threatens Oil Cutoff
  
  Reuters | Dec 1, 07 7:46 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Hugo Chavez has threatened to cut off oil to the US if it tries to sabotage tomorrow's referendum, which will allow the Venezuelan president to run for re-election indefinitely, Reuters reports. He's sent the army to protect oil fields in case violence follows the vote to change the constitution and expand his powers. The US gets 12% of its oil from Venezuela and Chavez has often threatened to cut off sales. More »
November 2007
- Chavez Foes Stage Mass Rally
  
  Associated Press | Nov 29, 07 4:24 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Tens of thousands took to the streets in Caracas today to protest Hugo Chavez's proposal to bolster his power and institute socialist changes. Venezuelans will vote Sunday on 69 constitutional reforms, including the eradication of presidential term limits. "We can't be a communist Venezuela," one opposition leader told the AP. Polls show the outcome too close to call. More »
- Chavez Fumes Over Caption Goof on CNN
  
  BBC | Nov 28, 07 8:06 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - An honest flub? No way, says Venezuela's Hugo Chavez. After CNN showed a picture of Chavez with the words, “Who killed him?”—a caption meant for a story on murdered NFL star Sean Taylor, Chavez accused the channel of trying to incite assassins, BBC reports. CNN—which Chavez previously accused of helping US efforts to undermine him—quickly caught and fixed the error. More »
- Chavez, Meet the Students
  
  Wall Street Journal | Nov 24, 07 5:35 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Chavez rules Venezuela’s congress, courts and army, but students like Stalin are blocking his way. That would be Ivan Stalin González—an undergrad who helped corral thousands to march against Chavez in recent weeks. Chavez has labeled the kids “terrorists,” but Stalin, as he likes to be called, says he's just another scruffy lefty student who slams Chavez's socialism. More »
- Chavez Fired as Hostage Mediator
  
  Reuters | Nov 22, 07 7:32 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Colombia ended Hugo Chavez's try at freeing 45 hostages from Marxist rebels today, Reuters reports. The Venezuelan prez had been brokering their release for weeks when he apparently breached protocol by talking to a Colombian general. "Can you imagine (Russia's president) calling the chairman of the U.S. chiefs of staff and asking about things?" said one analyst. "That is jumping chains of command." More »
- MLB's Future in Venezuela Uncertain
  
  ESPN | Nov 22, 07 6:43 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Baseball is big in Venezuela, and vice versa: 200 Venezuelans have played in MLB, including 50 who are currently active. You’d expect clubs to be racing to the country in search of talent, but concerns about Venezuela’s political climate are actually scaring them away: The Padres, Orioles, Red Sox, and Indians have all discontinued formerly active player development operations there in recent years, ESPN reports. More »
- Juan Carlos' 'Shut Up' Still Ringing
  
  Guardian (UK) | Nov 19, 07 3:37 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - A diplomatic misstep by Spain's king has rung in a $2 million windfall: A ringtone of Juan Carlos asking Hugo Chavez "Why don't you shut up?" has been downloaded about 500,000 times. Many fans are student foes of the Venezuelan president. Several versions use actors to avoid copyright issues, but one lawyer says even using the expression might violate Juan Carlos' rights, the Guardian reports. More »
- Chavez Warns of $200 Oil if US Strikes Iran
  
  BBC | Nov 17, 07 6:48 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Crude oil prices could hit $150-$200 a barrel if Bush is “mad enough” to strike Iran, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned today at the OPEC summit. “The basis of all aggression is oil,” said Chavez, arguing that OPEC should set itself up as “an active geopolitical agent.” Saudi Arabia’s King Abdullah countered, saying “Oil shouldn’t be a tool for conflict, [but for] development.” More »
- Chavez Vision Roils Nation
  
  New York Times | Nov 17, 07 12:27 PM CST
  
  (Newser) - Hugo Chavez's grasp on Venezuela is about to tighten as the country inches toward a virtual dictatorship and expanded socialism—a development that has support among the poor but is drawing dissent from economists and former army officials. An expected revision of the Constitution would drop the workday to six hours, establish a new social security system, and make Chavez re-electable for life, the New York Times reports. More »
- Spanish King to Venezuelan Prez: Shut Up!
  
  BBC | Nov 11, 07 7:26 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - World leaders at the Ibero-American summit had a grade-school exchange yesterday, with Spain's King Juan Carlos pulling out a "why don't you shut up" when Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez wouldn't wait his turn to talk. Chavez ignored requests to be more polite after calling a former Spanish prime minister a "fascist," adding that even "a snake is more human" than fascists," reports the BBC. More »
- Gunmen Injure 8 After Chavez Protest Rally
  
  Associated Press | Nov 8, 07 6:18 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - A band of hooded gunmen opened fire and tossed tear gas cannisters into a crowd of college students returning yesterday from a massive rally protesting President Hugo Chavez' policies. At least eight were injured, but no one was killed, AP reports. Panicked students raced through campus as ambulances arrived. Students had led a peaceful march of 80,000 to protest Chavez' constitutional proposals that would abolish presidential term limits and expand his powers. More »
- Chavez Calls Cheney & Co. 'Ignorant Fools' After Slip-up
  
  Associated Press | Nov 7, 07 11:49 AM CST
  
  (Newser) - Hugo Chavez had a little fun at Dick Cheney's expense yesterday; after the US vice president confused Venezuela with Peru in a weekend speech, the bombastic Venezuelan president said the slip-up showed that "those who govern the United States are a bunch of ignorant fools. "They don't know where Venezuela is, nor do they know where Peru is," Chavez said, laughing. More »
October 2007
- All Systems Dough for Chávez' Bank of the South
  
  Bloomberg | Oct 9, 07 4:46 AM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez' dream of a regional development bank like the International Monetary Fund was officially launched yesterday as finance ministers from seven South American nations agreed to establish Banco del Sur. The new Bank of the South will be dedicated to strengthening trade ties and expanding growth across the continent. Its home? Caracas, naturally. More »
September 2007
- Chavez Slams Quinceañera Implants
  
  Reuters | Sep 26, 07 1:07 PM CDT
  
  (Newser) - Hugo Chavez has aimed his anti-consumerist wrath at one of Venezuela’s bustiest trends. In a record eight-hour TV address Sunday, the barn-storming president assaulted his countrymen for giving breast implants as presents to girls celebrating their quinceañeras , the traditional 15th-birthday coming-of-age party. More »