VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:
In an interview yesterday with TV political show presenter, Jose Vicente Rangel and former Executive Vice President, Jose Vicente Rangel, President Chavez has expressed the hope of extending bridges to the opposition and the middle classes. Comparing the two sides in Venezuela, Chavez says the opposition represents the counterrevolution and Capitalist project, while the government is pushing for a Socialist project. The President also says he believes that the greater part of the opposition is being held captive by a small group of fascists that have a lot of economic and media power.
When asked about the types of bridges he has in mind, Chavez replies that he is thinking about it and does not want to improvise but will make announcements. "I want to make it clear that I am one of the Venezuelans and I believe we are the majority who want a climate of pacific and democratic coexistence, respecting the rules of the game." Chavez expects the opposition to respect the results of the constitutional reform amendment in February, just as the government respected the results of the last referendum in 2007.
Speaking about the constitutional amendment referendum, the President insists that it is not a question of simple re-election and if he loses, he will accept the results and will continue to govern. If he wins, he will accelerate the Socialist process. Chavez considers it important to convince a sector of the so-called neither-nor and middle class sectors who have benefited from the process. When asked whether the government had failed in communicating with the middle class, the President replies that it is debatable, stating that the middle class as such does not exist, even though there are middle-class attitudes, culture, habits and customs. However, he did admit that there are many middle-class people working in State bureaucracy and while there are faults, the latter can be attributed to the battle of ideas.
When quizzed about the effect of the world economic crisis on Venezuela, President Chavez recognizes that it is a difficult question to answer and declares that the Bolivarian revolution arrived on time and so far Venezuela has remained unaffected. Despite a fall in oil prices, the President maintains that Venezuela has the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) on its side and hopes to see a recovery of prices in 2009. "Venezuela is prepared and preparing itself to avoid the crisis destabilizing the country."
The death has been announced of Central Bank of Venezuela (BCV) president, Gaston Parra Luzardo after a long illness. The economist was appointed to the post and ratified by the National Assembly (AN) in January 2005. Parra Luzardo found himself surrounded in controversy when he was appointed president of Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA ) in 2002 after being the managing vice-president since 2000. The opposition called for his resignation and the struggle inside PDVSA lead to the eventual coup d'etat against President Chavez on April 11, 2002.
On Sunday, around 200 miners from Bolivar State congregated around Miraflores Palace hoping to be received by President Chavez. The protesters presented a document detailing acts of corruption and other irregularities committed against them. According to the miners, after the removal of miners from the Caroni River basin, government representatives from the Ministry of Mining made promises that have not been kept, except to the richer miners. The protesters claim that promised payments have been fulfilled just 40%, while the promise of training programs, agricultural and fishing credits have only been complied with 20%.
The IRS/Senate has announced the seizure of around 360 kg of cocaine that was to be exported to Europe. The haul was discovered with the help of the National Guard (GN) in the customs & excise yard of Puerto Cabello (Carabobo). It would appear that the cocaine was hidden in a cargo of ceramics, which was opened after x-ray machines found inconsistencies.
Opposition student leader, Yon Goicoechea has been given a job as president of the Metropolitan Mayor's Office Youth Institute. Yesterday, he announced that he will be joining the opposition Primero Justicia (PJ) party.
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.
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