MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Changes in slow motion

Venezuelan president Hugo Chaves named this Sunday veteran political leader and former Defence Minister José Vicente Rangel as his new vicepresident, a vital post in the government structure.

Mr. Rangel replaces Mr. Diosdado Cabello a former paratrooper and controversial figure, rejected by the opposition and accused of arming the "Chavistas" mobs during the recent violent protests which ousted Mr. Chaves for a couple of days and left 50 dead and over 300 wounded.

As the first civilian Venezuelan Minister of Defence in 72 years, Mr. Rangel since January actually was the only government representative considered "reliable" and holding talks with the growing opposition to the populist regime of Mr. Chaves.

The nomination of Mr. Rangel is seen as another step to comply with the "sincere dialogue" President Chaves promised after he was restored in office following a 48 hours disappearance, apparently detained in a military compound, after armed mobs surrounding the Presidential palace opened fire killing several civilians peacefully protesting during a general strike.

In spite of strong support from the poorest segments of Venezuela, President Chaves faces not only general discontent to questionable political and social reforms, (such as non compensated land and property distribution), but also a faltering economy and military fears that the country could end in an armed confrontation among civilians.

Mr. Chaves, who considers himself an admirer of Fidel Castro, suffered a big setback when a few weeks ago he tried to name a new Board in Petróleos de Venezuela, the country's largest company in oil rich Venezuela, and responsible for most of its exports and tax revenues. Since it's Venezuela' main income earner, there's a general consensus in the country that the company is out of bounds for politics.

The company's professional management with union backing rejected Mr. Chaves nomination and organized a national strike that ended with bloody rioting and Mr. Chaves two days ousting.

On his return to office Mr. Chaves promised a "sincere dialogue" with the opposition, named a professional board in PvdeSA with Alí Rodríguez, OPEC's Secretary General as president, and changes in his cabinet.

Most South American countries supported President Chaves and Venezuelan democracy during the political crisis and insisted in his reinstatement to office condemning what was described as "mob rule".

However the situation is still fragile because Mr. Chaves support in Congress has weakened and the Army is very fearsome of an armed conflict since the Venezuelan society seems irreconcilably split in half.