News: Politics

Venezuela's Chavez Establishes Insular Territory off Caribbean Coast

Aug 4th 2011

On 3 August 2011 Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez created a new insular territory of Venezuela's northern coast (Agencies).

On Wednesday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez announced that he will use his existing legislative authority to create the Insular Territory of Miranda off the country's northern Caribbean coast, a territorial zone that includes Los Roques, La Orchila and the Archipelago Las Aves.

NATO’s Transition Council in Libya a “Pantomime” says Venezuela’s Chavez

Aug 2nd 2011

French President Nicolas Sarkozy with an unnamed member of Libya's Interim Transitional National Council (Agencies).

Yesterday President Hugo Chavez said that his government “rejects the national transition council installed in Libya, approved of by [some] European countries and by other governments, because it violates the basics of international law.”

Venezuela Creates New Ministry for Prison Reform to Change Ailing System

Jul 29th 2011

Iris Varela, Venezuela's first Minister of Penitentiary Services, holding a copy of the country's constitution (Agenci

Moving ahead with prison reforms in the wake of recent tumult, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez appointed congresswoman Iris Varela to head the newly created Ministry of Penitentiary Services.

Venezuela and Peru Strengthen Ties

Jul 22nd 2011

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his Peruvian counterpart President-elect Ollanta Humala during their first formal meeting i

As part of his initiative to reach out to different Latin American governments before taking ofﬁce, Peruvian President Elect, Ollanta Humala, met with Hugo Chavez last week in the capital of Caracas in a visit marked by common interest and a strong will for improved bilateral relations.

Venezuela’s Chavez Announces Wage Increase for Doctors, Maintains Executive Cabinet

Jul 8th 2011

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez during his Council of Ministers meeting of 7 July 2011 (TeleSur)

Speaking on national television from the Miraflores Presidential Palace, Chavez said that his cabinet had decided on the 30% wage increase for public sector doctors after having reviewed a number of wage increase proposals presented by different medical associations. Chavez said that he had chosen between “exaggerated” proposals and others that were “more rational.”

Venezuela Ranked Number One in Electoral Fairness by Foundation for Democratic Advancement

Jul 7th 2011

Venezuela received a score of 85% in overall electoral fairness by the Canada-based Foundation for Democratic Advancement (FDA),

This week Venezuela’s Social Investigation Group XXI (GIS) released new comparative data on electoral fairness in the country compiled by the Canada-based Foundation for Democratic Advancement (FDA) which found Venezuela’s elections to be “exceptionally fair, and thereby highly democratic.”

Venezuelan Opposition “Going Crazy” over Rumours about Chavez’s Health

Jun 27th 2011

Venezuela's Vice-President Elias Jaua (AVN/ Verónica Canino)

The international and Venezuelan right wing have “gone crazy” spreading rumours about Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez’s health, said Vice-president Elias Jaua. Speculations by private media that the president is dying or has cancer have been rampant since Chavez was operated on in Cuba on 10 June.

Venezuela’s President Chávez Recovering Well Following Operation in Cuba

Jun 14th 2011

Foreign Minister Nicolas Maduro confirmed that President Chávez was continuing with his presidential duties from Havana during

Following an operation last Friday for a pelvic abscess, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is now reported to be recovering well in a Cuban hospital. During the final leg of his short tour of Latin America, the Venezuelan leader took ill in Cuba and had to undergo immediate surgery in Havana.

Venezuela’s Chavez and Senior Officials in Cuba for Talks

Jun 9th 2011

On Wednesday Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and senior members of his cabinet arrived in Havana, Cuba, on the final leg of their three-nation tour aimed at consolidating Latin American integration efforts.

Venezuelan Government Congratulates Peru’s Humala

Jun 7th 2011

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez with Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala (Photo: Archive)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and his party, the PSUV, congratulated Peruvian president-elect Ollanta Humala on his electoral win, saying they hoped the victory would mean more social inclusion in Peru.

First National Meeting of Socialist Workers’ Councils Takes Place in Bolivar, Venezuela

May 24th 2011

First National Meeting of Workers for Workers’ Control (Prensa Sidor).

Over the weekend, mora than 900 workers’ council delegates from across Venezuela met at the SIDOR steel plant in Puerto Ordaz in order to advance the organisation of Socialist Workers’ Councils and analyse progress, strengths and weaknesses of worker control in Venezuela.

Colombian Supreme Court Dismisses Reyes 'FARC Files' as Evidence

May 20th 2011

Documents found on the computers of slain commander "Raul Reyes" were found "inadmissible" by Colombia'

Documents found on computers of slain FARC commander "Raul Reyes" are inadmissible as evidence in court as the material is illegally obtained and provides no evidence, Colombia's Supreme Court ruled Wednesday.

Venezuelan Opposition Announces Possible Candidates for Primary Elections

May 5th 2011

Henrique Capriles Radonski announces his candidacy for opposition primaries (El Universal).

The Venezuelan opposition has released a list of possible candidates to stand for the Table of Democratic Unity (MUD) against the United Socialist Party of Venezuela’s (PSUV) candidate, Hugo Chávez Frias, in the 2012 presidential elections.

Fugitive Rosales “Regrets” Having Signed Coup Decree in 2002

Apr 12th 2011

Manuel Rosales (YVKE)

Fugitive from the Venezuelan justice system, Manuel Rosales expressed regret for having signed the coup decree which dissolved all public powers in the country on April 2002, during the brief dictatorship of businessman Pedro Carmona.

Venezuela’s President Chavez would Win 2012 Elections, Says Poll

Apr 4th 2011

Positive support for Venezuelan legislators, with the red column corresponding to the PSUV legislators, and the blue column to t

According to the latest GIS XXI survey, Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez has a support level of 51%, and there are low levels of support for the performance of both opposition, and pro-government legislators.