CARACAS, Venezuela - President Hugo Chavez defended a top official caught on tape threatening to fire state employees who oppose the Venezuelan leader, suggesting those who do not like his leftist policies should go somewhere else, like Miami.
Television footage released during the week by opposition supporters showed Oil Minister Rafael Ramirez telling workers of state oil company Petroleos de Venezuela SA (PDVSA) to back Chavez or give up their jobs. The opposition said it was proof of political coercion which violated rules against the use of state bodies as campaign tools.
Chavez, a staunch critic of
President Bush and his administration, is running for re-election on Dec. 3.
Meanwhile, opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales led 16-mile march through the capital on Saturday, drawing tens of thousands into the streets to endorse his candidacy. More than 1,000 police were deployed along the route to prevent clashes between Rosales supporters and "Chavistas" who gathered on street corners, shouting "Viva Chavez!" and "Oh, No! Chavez Won't Go!" as marchers passed.
On Friday, Chavez defended Ramirez, saying he agrees workers must be loyal to his Bolivarian Revolution movement.
"Of course PDVSA is revolutionary," Chavez said as he inaugurated a new subway line outside Caracas. "Petroleos de Venezuela workers are with this revolution, and those who aren't should go somewhere else. Go to Miami."
Chavez accused opponents of plotting coups against him and said the military — like the oil firm — must be totally committed.
"Venezuelan soldiers are in this revolution, and I have told them: anyone who isn't had better leave here," he said.
He also accused some private TV channels of fomenting conspiracies against his government and warned in a televised speech: "Don't be surprised if I say there are no more concessions to some TV channels," when their licenses expire in March.
The state oil company, the country's single largest employer with a 40,000-member work force, has been heavily pro-Chavez since the president dismissed nearly half its workers to end an anti-government oil strike in 2003.
But aides to Rosales cite electoral rules that prohibit using the oil company and other branches of the government to further a candidate's campaign.
Already this week, Chavez opponents complained of vote-buying when the government paid early Christmas bonuses to public workers. The opposition also complains that state-funded advertising and TV time are giving the incumbent an illegal edge.
Rosales' campaign says electoral officials can impose a maximum fine of $7,800 on Ramirez if it finds campaign rules have been broken. It also is demanding an investigation by prosecutors.
Ramirez told the Venezuelan daily newspaper Ultimas Noticias that he did nothing to violate campaign rules because there was no explicit call "to vote for one candidate in particular but rather we backed President Chavez as head of state." He said more internal videos would be released to quell any doubts.
Especially after watching all the "dancing in the endzone" on PBS last night! Especially on the McLaughin Gripe!!! Poor Tony sits there in between Eleanor, that Laurence whateverhisnameis, PJB and old lamebrained McLaughin himself! OMG is gits so disgusting and I wouldn't watch it except that I don't have cable or satelite and there's nothin else worth watchin, either.
They almost had me wonderin if I'm right "goin long" on American stocks in the markets!!!
This guy was fired for telling the truth, basically. Old-Style Communism is dead. It is too "in yo face", and turns off the ones who are smart enough.
The future of Communism is Chinese-style. An officially left-leaning government that keeps its citizens under control, under their thumb, and dominated by doping them up on freedom, sports/entertainment, and misinformation. Who does that sound like?
This style of tyranny looks far less dangerous to the outsider, and it will likely distract attention from the masses of asses in outer countries, especially this one. If this current Venezuelan government (Or Castro, for that matter) attracts so much positivity from the Amerikkan Left, what would a "Nice Guy" do for the Communist PR? Put America to sleep, and they will spread like wildfire.