Tag: Hugo Chávez

• Friday, February 11th 2011 - 06:19 UTC

  Major brawl in Venezuelan congress between pro and anti Chavez lawmakers

  

  Venezuelan lawmakers exchanged punches in parliament on Thursday when a fight erupted between members of President Hugo Chavez's socialist party and rivals, in a sign of the country’s political polarization.

• Thursday, February 10th 2011 - 00:50 UTC

  Venezuela’s homicide rate exposes vulnerable flank of President Chavez

  

  Venezuelan authorities say they recorded 48 homicides for every 100,000 inhabitants last year, making it one of the most dangerous places in South America. Venezuela has a population of 28 million and a report for United Nations last year put the homicide rate for South America as a whole around 20 per 100.000 people.

• Thursday, February 3rd 2011 - 06:35 UTC

  Chavez celebrates 12 years in office and anticipates six more

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez celebrated Wednesday his twelfth anniversary in power saying he is ready to battle for six more years in elections next year. Chavez said in a televised speech that “the battle has begun” for his 2012 re-election.

• Sunday, January 30th 2011 - 20:57 UTC

  President Chavez Denies Plan to Nationalise Bank

  

  Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has said that he has no plans to nationalise the Banco Provincial, the Venezuelan affiliate of Spain's Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria, or BBVA.

• Thursday, January 27th 2011 - 21:08 UTC

  Chavez and Mujica Meet and Sign Numerous Bilateral Agreements

  

  Uruguayan President Jose Mujica is visiting Venezuela and today held talks with President Hugo Chavez at the Miraflores presidential Palace.

• Thursday, January 27th 2011 - 16:27 UTC

  President Hugo Chavez Threatens to Take Over Spanish Bank on Live Television

  

  President Hugo Chavez eccentricities continue. This time he threatened to expropriate the Venezuelan subsidiary of Spanish banking giant BBVA in a tense telephone conversation Wednesday with the Banco Provincial CEO that was broadcast live on radio and television.

• Monday, January 24th 2011 - 18:49 UTC

  Thousands March In Venezuela

  

  Thousands of Venezuelans took to the streets on Sunday, allies and adversaries alike, marking the 53rd anniversary of Venezuela’s democracy. Opposition supporters met in one part of Caracas, chanting anti-government slogans and waving Venezuelan flags and calling Chavez a despot and claiming he is amassing power and cracking down on dissent.

• Monday, January 17th 2011 - 17:32 UTC

  Venezuela's Oil Reserves Surpass Those of Saudi Arabia

  

  Venezuela's president Hugo Chavez announced that his country's oil reserves total 217 barrels, topping Saudi Arabia's and making them the largest in the world.

• Thursday, January 6th 2011 - 21:08 UTC

  Second contraction year for Venezuela; 2% expansion forecasted in 2011

  

  Venezuela’s economy contracted 1.9% 2010, marking a second year of recession according to a release from the Central Bank. The economy shrank 3.3% in 2009, but President Hugo Chavez's government said the country is now pulling out of recession and on course for 2% growth in 2011.

• Monday, January 3rd 2011 - 05:11 UTC

  Venezuelan currency devalued again

  

  Venezuelan government devalued its bolivar currency for the second time in 12 months on Thursday, abolishing the lowest exchange rate as the Opec member fights to revive its economy. Intended to spur local production in the largely import-dependent nation, the announcement followed a central bank estimate that the economy contracted 1.9 percent during 2010 - Venezuela's second straight year of recession.