US accuses Chavez of “exporting populism”
Or - “The Genie is out of the Bottle”.

A US spokesman has accused the Venezuelan President of trying to influence the outcome of elections due this year in Peru and Nicaragua.

The chief of the US Southern Command based in Miami, General Bantz Craddock accused Venezuela yesterday of trying to “export radical populism” to other countries in Latin America

Craddock stated that Hugo Chavez’ government is seeking to influence the elections in Peru and Nicaragua and other Latin American countries in order to export “extremist populist movements” which Chavez allegedly defends.

 “There is a destabilizing effect throughout the region. I believe that the worrying aspect is what is being exported, whether it be good or bad, is radical populism to immature and unstable democracies”, Craddock said.

The US spokesman is certain that Caracas is having a “big influence” on the elections taking place this year in Latin America.

 “I think that this is known by the public and the Peruvian government has made it known. Nicaragua has also made it public. The influence of this populist movement is spreading and having an effect of various nations which still have to hold elections this year,” Craddock added.

Chavez, on the other hand, dismissed the criticisms of the US spokesman towards his government as being “tiring and bordering on stupidity”. During a press conference with his Uruguayan counterpart Taberá Vázquez, the Venezuelan president reiterated that the conflict between Caracas and Washington is political and does not involve the “United States people” who are good friends of his government.

He referred to the example of the Venezuelan programme of heating oil distribution “with payment facilities and a rational discount” in poor US communities.

The left turn being experienced in Latin American politics is due to the awakening of the masses inspired by the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela and the election of indigenous president Evo Morales in Bolivia. The “Morales” effect is being felt in Ecuador as thousands of indigenous people are marching on the capital Quito to demand the resignation of President Alfredo Palacio (Read – “Indigenous Revolution in Ecuador?”  http://www.axisoflogic.com/

Chavez is supporting indigenous presidential candidate, Ollanta Humala in Peru and Sandinista Leader Daniel Ortega in Nicaragua. Both candidates are ahead in their respective polls against right wing, US backed candidates.

Only last week the Fara Bundi National Liberation Movement in El Salvador had great success in the regional elections, but vote counting has been held up due to “irregularities”, much as was experienced in Haiti a month ago, when the Populist candidate and Aristide disciple, René Preval, won the presidential election against all the odds and US backed pollsters.

General Craddock is wrong if he is implying that Chavez is somehow financing left wing candidates in other Latin American countries to win their respective elections. No evidence of these paranoiac claims has ever been presented and such declarations by US spokespersons is now bordering on insane desperation as Washington’s influence continues to erode in its own “back yard”.

Perhaps “Chavez is driving them crazy”, which is a popular chant on the streets of Venezuela.

The truth of the matter in Latin America is that “The Genie is out of the Bottle”, as Fidel Castro once said.

Andy Goodall
VSC Coordinator
andy.goodall@venezuelasolidarity.org.uk