Originally posted by generalissimo
Hugo chavez certainly seems to be more concerned about the country's poor , but that doesn't excuse the way he concentrated the power on the executive and extented his term limits, and how he harassed the media and the opposition. He is the typical cardillo, winning the support of the public through handouts only to install himself as a virtual dictato ...[text shortened]... ay be towards the common people, it doesn't change the fact he has become a virtual dictator.
Concentrated power in the executive?! Harassed the media and opposition? Are you talking about Chavez or Uribe. Are you talking about Chavez or the post Zelaya government?
Chavez extended his term limits?! Last time I checked the Constitution change came about through popular referendum.
I don't agree (totally) with him making the referendum soon after losing the first one, but I'm also aware of the campaign of disinformation that surrounded both referendums. So in this one I'm leaning with the choice of the people of Venezuela.
The facts are that Chavez allowed a lot more from the press than any other democratic government I know of: he was called a madman, a dictator, a Nazi, being compared to Castro and Hitler on a daily basis. Not only that, but RCTV also periodically asked the viewers to take it to the streets and oust Chavez. During the coup they emitted a false declaration of some Venezuelan generals and after the coup they publicly congratulated the people involved in the coup and told they had a part in it.
After two days the venezuelan people (mind this - the venezuelan people) succeed in getting Chavez back to power. His personal guard didn't have to fire a single shot.
After all of this RCTV continued emitting.
I think that anyone doing any kind of media harassment would take immediate answers after getting back to power and yet RCTV continued on air for several years. Some years after that they failed to comply and didn't get their license renewed and had to resort to satellite emissions. A few years after they failed to comply to some rules that national broadcasters had to comply and their sign was shut off.
All of this was always according to Venezuelan law that Chavez at no point changed to serve his interests.
How any of this makes him a virtual dictator is a mystery to me, I tell you.
How do you think Chavez should have dealt with RCTV after the failed coup by the way?