Support Chávez.
Today a crucial election is taking place in Venezuela.
There are many things to be said about this, and have been said.
The Tendance agrees with the position of Dave Osler (majority) outlined here.
Hugo Chávez has faults, we all know them. His government may have socialist intentions, but not all of its actions have been without reproach.
He has said some ridiculous and demeaning things on international issues – notably about the counter-revolutionary Iranian regime.
But he has advanced the cause of the peoples, helping the power of the poor and the working class.
Even Libération admits inequality in the country is now the lowest in South America.
His opponent Henrique Capriles has had a make-over and now claims not to be an agent of ultra-liberalism and the US.
We do not believe this for a moment.
This is a fundamental class issue: support Chávez and wish him well!
This is a very reasonable assessment of Chavez’s strengths and weaknesses. I completely agree with you.
The Spanish Prisoner
October 7, 2012 at 2:00 pm
Reblogged this on Representing the Mambo and commented:
Andrew Coates sums up well my feelings on the Venezuelan elections. There is much to criticise about Chavez’s rule but the idea that the alternative is anything other than much, much worse is laughable, frankly. Chavez’s social programs have meant concrete improvements in the lives of many Venezuelans. Of course he isn’t perfect, but neither is he the Stalinist dictator that the media and even some on the left are keen to present. I for one hope he wins.
representingthemambo
October 7, 2012 at 8:22 pm
Thanks – I felt I had to say something, that’s what Blogs are for, after all.
“Chavez wins 3rd re-election in tightest race yet
By FRANK BAJAK, Associated Press – 10 minutes ago
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — President Hugo Chavez put to rest any doubts about his masterful political touch in winning a third consecutive six-year term after a bitterly fought race against a youthful rival who has galvanized Venezuela’s opposition.
The state governor who lost Sunday’s presidential vote, Henrique Capriles, had accused the flamboyant incumbent of unfairly leveraging to his advantage Venezuela’s oil wealth to finance his campaign as well as flaunting his near total control of state institutions.
Capriles also narrowed Chavez’s margin of victory to his smallest yet in a presidential contest. This time, the former army paratroop commander who led a failed 1992 coup won 55 percent of the vote against 45 percent for Capriles, with 98 percent of the vote counted.
In 2006, Chavez’s margin of victory was 27 points.
Nevertheless, the populace endorsed once again Chavez’s stated aim of converting Venezuela into a socialist state.”
Andrew Coates
October 8, 2012 at 9:59 am
Oh for pities sake Chavez is a Caudillo and Caudillismo is the bane of Latin American politics. Causillismo really is the socialism of fools
mettaculture
October 10, 2012 at 12:05 am