Dec 5, 2006

Venezuela Pres. Hugo Chávez wins by wide margin

Hugo Chávez was re-elected by a wide margin.

Emboldened by a resounding re-election, President Hugo Chávez pledged to shake up Venezuela with a more radical version of socialism and forge a wider front against the United States in Latin America.

Current law prevents him from running again in 2012 but he has said he plans to seek constitutional reforms that would include an end to presidential term limits.

He intends to be “President for life.”

In 1992 Hugo Chávez attempted to overthrow President Carlos Andrés Pérez. Although the coup failed, Chávez was elected president six years later.

In 1998 Chávez campaigned against the "savage capitalism" of the United States.

When there was talk of election fraud prior to the 1998 elections in Venezuela, ex-U.S. President Jimmy Carter volunteered to monitor the election.

In spite of widespread charges of election fraud, Jimmy Carter certified the 1998 election results in Venezuela.

Chávez didn’t need Jimmy Carter this time. He bought his election by giving cash and other benefits to the poor as a part of the anti-business socialism during his first administration.

The 2006 election story is here.