Hugo Chavez Dead

Hugo Chavez Dead

For the record:

Fair elections

There was nothing remotely suspicious about the integrity of the 2012 Venezuelan general election.

Former US President Jimmy Carter who was part of a panel of impartial international observers monitoring the freedom and fairness of the election called the Venezuelan Presidential system ‘the best in the world.’

The election was hailed as an example of democracy in action and the panel reported that candidates on both sides had ‘confidence in the integrity of the process.’

Given what happened in Florida a few years ago, Venezuela could probably teach the US a few lessons in free and fair elections.

Genuine democracy

More than 8 out of every 10 adult Venezuelans voted – a turnout that shames most western nations where apathy rules because the parties all represent the same vested interest groups.

To Chavez’s enormous credit he did much to turn Venezuela into a true democracy, empowering the poor of the barrios to register to vote and exercise their power as citizens to choose their own government – rather than have it chosen for them by others as has historically been the case.

Under Chavez’s rule, the number of voters rose by 8 million as the poor and disenfranchised finally took up their constitutional rights to elect a government.

Achievements

Many people who work for oil companies or who have been carried away by the relentless campaign of disinformation against Chavez are probably completely unaware of what he did achieve while in power.

Below are just a few of his major achievements which have improved life in Venezuela...there are many more. This is why Chavez was so successful at winning elections. It had nothing to do with electoral fraud.

The number of people living in poverty was reduced from 70.8 to 21 per cent
Unemployment reduced from 15 to 7.8 per cent
20 million people have benefitted from his subsidised food price programme and anti-poverty initiatives
The number of elderly people receiving pensions rose from 387,000 to 2 million
Thousands of new and refurbished schools have been created
10 new universities have been founded
There has been an increase in the number of doctors per 10,000 people from 18 to 58
Affordable decent housing has been offered for the first time to thousands living in slums.

Don't take my word for it - do your own research on impartial sites.

Hate him if you want to – but don’t spread misinformation about his contribution or undermine his considerable achievements.

Unlike the vast majority of modern statesmen who represent oligarchies, oil companies, high-finance, and corporate greed, Chavez actually gave a damn about the poor, the disenfranchised and those unfortunate enough not to live in the country clubs of Caracas.