President of Venezuela. Chavez is a relentless opponent of former President Bush. In September, 2006, during the General Assembly session, he called President Bush “devil”. He loses no opportunity to lash out at the hegemonistic policies of USA and its efforts to meddle in the internal affairs of the Third World countries.
He has also been endeavouring to garner support from the oil producing countries in order to form a cartel so that the oil prices remain high. He had earlier met Saddam Hussein, visited a number of West Asian and African countries. He was the first foreign dignitary to call on Fidel Castro when the latter fell seriously ill in mid-2006.
He has tried to spread his views to many of the South American countries, and counts Bolivian President Evo Morales as one of his best friends in South America. Venezuela is one of the largest oil exporters of the world and contributes significantly to the US demand.
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In October, 2006, Venezuela sought temporary membership of the Security Council, but President Bush undertook Venezuela’s candidature as a personal affront and spoke to a number of world leaders including Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, to vote for Guatemala, the other South American candidate, Panama instead was voted as a compromise candidate.
The United States and its cronies are making a determined effort to undermine the influence of Chavez Hugo. He visited India in March, 2005, and spent some time with the leaders of the Leftist Government in West Bengal. The re-election of Lula da Silva as President of Brazil in October, 2006, has reinforced the influence and clout of Chavez.
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He has already become a role model for some of the developing countries of the world. Chavez was re-elected President in December, 2006. A referendum was held in Venezuala, which sought to perpetuate the presidency of Chavez and bestow him with vast powers in Dec. 2007; he, nevertheless, lost the referendum narrowly.