Chavez was elected in 1998 on an anti-poverty platform, and has used billions of dollars in oil revenues to finance development programs for the poor as part of his self-styled socialist revolution.
He won a overwhelming victory in a recall referendum in 2004, but his critics at home and in Washington say he is centralising power in an increasingly authoritarian system and cracking down on political opponents
First off, I defy Swiss Info, the UN or anybody else to verify exactly how much funding is going to the poor in Hugie's socialist reform. I'd wager not very darned much.
Secondly, he won by an "overwhelming majority" in large part because our own President Peanut hot-footed down to declare the election legitimate despite a LOT of questions as to ballot stuffing and other questionable election practices.
So Swiss Info spins a bit for Hugie...