Free Republic

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) -- President Hugo Chavez is aiming to set up neighborhood-based militias, move toward a socialist economy in Venezuela and increase state control over agriculture under a package of laws enacted by presidential decree. Changes in areas from the military to small business loans were pushed through by the president in 26 laws released Monday in the official gazette.

CARACAS, Venezuela -- Comedian Laureano Marquez has poked fun at politicians for decades without getting into trouble with the law, so he didn't think twice about writing a tongue-in-cheek newspaper editorial based on a dialogue between President Hugo Chavez and his 9-year-old daughter. But Marquez and a publishing company that printed the column in the Tal Cual newspaper are now facing fines imposed by a local court for "violating the honor, reputation and private life" of Rosines Chavez Rodriguez, Chavez's youngest daughter. Marquez — one of Venezuela's leading humorists — denies any wrongdoing and argues the $18,600 fine imposed on...

The President of Venezuela, Hugo Chavez, has said his country is likely to sever ties with Israel in protest at its military offensive in Lebanon. Mr Chavez said he had "no interest" in maintaining relations with Israel, whom he has accused of committing genocide. Venezuela recalled its charge d'affaires to Israel last week, prompting Israel to withdraw its ambassador to Caracas on Monday. Mr Chavez recently expressed his support for Israel's arch-foe, Iran. In a televised speech, Mr Chavez said he had "no interest in maintaining diplomatic relations, or offices, or businesses, or anything with a state like Israel". Mr...

Believe it or not there's more than thuggery, political murder, smashing of the presses, arming of narco-terrorists, and hobnobbing with Castro and the crazy mullahs in Tehran. Chavez, despite record oil revenues, is presiding over the Cubanization of Venezuela. Video uses simple before (1998) and after (2005) images. See Hugo's "Beautiful Revolution".

A Venezuelan court has sentenced one of the most prominent leaders of the opposition to 15 years in prison. Carlos Ortega, who once led powerful trade unions, was found guilty of inciting civil unrest during a strike that began in late 2002. The two-month strike paralysed Venezuela's vital oil industry. Ortega said the verdict was politically motivated, and his lawyers immediately announced an appeal. Ortega was arrested in the capital, Caracas, in March. He was found in possession of identity papers with an assumed name, a police official said earlier. Family members said Ortega secretly returned to Venezuela in last...

IF THE SAHARA DESERT WENT Marxist, ran a Cold War-era joke, pretty soon it would have to import sand. Today the gag might be: If Venezuela, the world's fifth-largest oil exporter, elected Hugo Chávez, pretty soon it would have to import petroleum. Except it's not a gag. In December 2002, less than four years into Chávez's presidency, Venezuelans began importing oil. The wells hadn't gone dry. Rather, the state petroleum firm, Petróleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), which was then controlled by the opposition, had called a general strike to protest Chávez's increasingly autocratic rule.Chávez balked at their demands--that he either call...

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez's political party, MVR, said on Sunday it won 114 National Assembly seats out of 167 in congressional elections to give it more than two-thirds of the legislature. Earlier, the National Electoral Council said turnout was about 25 percent of registered voters. The council had yet to give an official voting tally. Main opposition parties boycotted the poll after accusing electoral authorities of favoring the populist leader and manipulating electronic voting machines.