Venezuela/President Hugo Chávez Steps Up Rating

Chávez’s popularity, according to community media, is not growing just in Venezuela. He is very popular among poor people in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and all over Latin América. Recently, the Venezuelan leader visited Argentina and Brazil. His speeches were clapped every time he mention about Latin American integration.

09.02.2005 [By Carlos Quintanilla*/ANNCOL] According to Datanalisis, a Venezuelan survey taker, President Hugo Chávez, has surpassed a 65% rating during the last days. The pollster recognizes that this percentage is the highest reached by Chávez, except during the first months of his administration.

Latin American political analysts, assure that the popularity of Chávez has grown since the kidnapping, in Caracas, Venezuela’s capital, of Rodrigo Granda, a Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC), top officer.

Venezuelan anti Chávez officers kidnapped Granda and took him to the Colombian border and handed him to Colombian security forces. Later on, Colombian militaries showed him on T.V. assuring that he was captured in Colombia’s territory. Chávez who argued that Colombian violated Venezuela’s sovereignty condemned the action.

The Venezuelan president has shown proofs that the Colombian guerrilla fighter was kidnapped in Caracas. Hundreds of thousands Venezuelan have supported Chávez and have held marches in defense of the national sovereignty. They even celebrated the “Day of Dignity” in which reiterated the support to their president.

The Venezuelan firm also affirms, “Each time US Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice criticizes Chávez, she contributes more points to his rating”. The poll also remarks that the opposition should accept the current popularity of the Venezuelan leader.

Chávez’s popularity, according to community media, is not growing just in Venezuela. He is very popular among poor people in Brazil, Argentina, Uruguay, and all over Latin América. Recently, the Venezuelan leader visited Argentina and Brazil. His speeches were clapped every time he mention about Latin American integration.

The Venezuelan Head of State has also asserted US Department of State officials for making inappropriate remarks against his country. Chávez has said Washington would not be able to materialize its provoking goal because Venezuela has acted responsible and would not be dragged down by provocative statements. The US accuses him of having a good “relationship with President Fidel Castro and with Colombians guerrillas.”

Undoubtedly, the incumbent Venezuelan President has metamorphosed into an effective Latin American figure. In his little time in power, he has done a lot for poor people and defeated conspiracy.

However, mass media, which is controlled by people with close links to the US, continues with its destabilizing campaign against his revolutionary project. In spite of this, Chavez’s popularity grows nationally and internationally. This is the kind of Presidents that Latin America deserve to have. Chávez will have a huge space in history; on the other hand, puppet governments will be forgotten easily.