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Chavez says he will seek unlimited presidential terms
Chavez sworn in for radical new term in Venezuela
CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez was sworn in on Wednesday for a new six-year term that he vowed to use to press a radical socialist revolution including nationalizations that have roiled financial markets.
Emboldened by his landslide re-election win, the typically combative anti-U.S. leader has gone on the attack, deciding to strip a private opposition TV channel of its license and take over some major companies owned by foreign investors.
"Fatherland, socialism or death -- I take the oath," Chavez said.
The man who calls Cuban President
Fidel Castro his mentor changed tradition by draping the presidential sash from his left shoulder instead of his right in what he says is a symbol of his socialist credentials.
Legislators at the ceremony in Congress chanted "Long live socialism."
Investors took fright this week at the leftist drive that further consolidates power in the hands of a former coup leader who already controls Congress, the courts and says he has total support in the army and the giant state oil company.
As the United States criticized Chavez's moves against private property, the stock market lost almost a fifth of its value on Tuesday, debt prices tumbled to a six-week low and the currency changed hands at nearly twice the official rate
Still, buoyed by strong oil revenues and high popularity, Chavez is expected to ride out any economic and political storm.
In his political career, the former army officer has survived jail, a coup and a recall referendum.
A leading anti-U.S. voice in the world and in the vanguard of a shift to the left in Latin America, Chavez now wants to scrap presidential term limits and lead the
OPEC nation for decades.
Chavez, who rode to Congress for the swearing-in ceremony in an open-top car waving at crowds of supporters, has said his new term's plans include stripping the central bank of its autonomy and taking on special legislative powers.
The opposition has accused Chavez, in power since 1999, of seeking to transform the fourth-biggest oil exporter to the United States into a Cuban-style centralized economy.
BLANK CHECK FROM VOTERS?
Chavez, who won 63 percent of the vote in December, has amplified comparisons with Castro by creating a single party to steer his revolution, but insists he will always tolerate opposition.
By now focusing on the media and utilities in his new term, he is homing in on two sectors that could complete his state control.
"Chavez interprets the election result as giving him a blank check to develop a program that runs against the interests of Venezuela and only serves to benefit himself," Omar Barboza, a leading opposition official, told Reuters.
Chavez insists he needs more power to save Venezuela from exploitation and even attack by capitalist countries, particularly the United States, whose
President George W. Bush he has labeled "the devil."
Chavez's nationalization plans remain hazy and the utilities and foreign investors want to know whether he plans to take a 51-percent governing stake or seize all of their enterprises.
Chavez has already confiscated large cattle ranches. But his decision to nationalize the country's biggest telecommunications company CANTV and power firms represents a bold new policy.
Still, investors have generally stayed in Venezuela while Chavez has been in office because the country has high revenue as one of the world's top exporters.
Investment bank Morgan Stanley said in a research note, "We continue to see oil prices as ultimately the key driver" of investments.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070110.../venezuela_dc_8
This is what Star-Traveller calls "Sovereign Democracy."
http://www.economist.com/daily/news...tory_id=8513262
I'm tired of this wanna be "Il Duce" clown. I can't wait till the world becomes less dependent on oil, so we can pay less attention to egotistical OPEC leaders like him.
Is there some reason why we continue to see new threads created on the actions of Chavez? Can we not have a bit of consolidation here? Does this guy really merit that much attention to have multiple threads created about him?
Jesus, you'd think he's become the next bin Laden or something - I don't even think bin Laden had as many consecutive threads at once.
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| Originally posted by MisterOpus1 Is there some reason why we continue to see new threads created on the actions of Chavez? Can we not have a bit of consolidation here? Does this guy really merit that much attention to have multiple threads created about him? Jesus, you'd think he's become the next bin Laden or something - I don't even think bin Laden had as many consecutive threads at once. |
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| Originally posted by Shakka This is what Star-Traveller calls "Sovereign Democracy." |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by MisterOpus1 Is there some reason why we continue to see new threads created on the actions of Chavez? Can we not have a bit of consolidation here? Does this guy really merit that much attention to have multiple threads created about him? Jesus, you'd think he's become the next bin Laden or something - I don't even think bin Laden had as many consecutive threads at once. |
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| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC I think it's a better thread for a debating forum than your dumb 'omg cheney is going to pennsylvania'. |
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| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC I think it's a better thread for a debating forum than your dumb 'omg cheney is going to pennsylvania'. |
And how come you guys go nuts if Bush does anything that
can be construed as hurting civil liberties or our freedom, but
a president like chavez or putin rollback democratic
reforms and you're all silent? You change the subject of
the thread, you question the need for a thread about a new
news article about a country's presidential election.
You don't like the thread's name or topic, here's a thought,
don't click it or post 
You're not going to push me
around saying I can't make a thread because like you keep
saying 'I'm new here and a noob'. Screw you and your superiority
complex. Last time I checked there's no guidelines are what
to post here and you're not a moderator.
New person comes in who doesn't share your narrow point of
views and I can't express myself?
F*ck off and get off my back because it's not another bash
Bush/America thread. This goes to both of you. You don't think
it's an important subject on a political debate forum, then
don't participate, no one is making you read/debate it.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC And how come you guys go nuts if Bush does anything that can be construed as hurting civil liberties or our freedom, but a president like chavez or putin rollback democratic reforms and you're all silent? You change the subject of the thread, you question the need for a thread about a new news article about a country's presidential election. |
| quote: |
| You don't like the thread's name or topic, here's a thought, don't click it or post You're not going to push mearound saying I can't make a thread because like you keep saying 'I'm new here and a noob'. Screw you and your superiority complex. Last time I checked there's no guidelines are what to post here and you're not a moderator. |
| quote: |
| New person comes in who doesn't share your narrow point of views and I can't express myself? F*ck off and get off my back because it's not another bash Bush/America thread. This goes to both of you. You don't think it's an important subject on a political debate forum, then don't participate, no one is making you read/debate it. |
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| Originally posted by MisterOpus1 I disagree with Chavez and Putin's actions, but I tend to be a bit more concerned about my own President in my own country a wee bit more, especially since we are supposed the the beacon of liberty and democracy. On the same token, why are you not just as, if not more concerned about our president's actions of stripping away our civil liberties in the same manner as you are about Chavez? You are an American citizen, are you not? |
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| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC Sue me. I'm not going to be intimitated by some 'dudes on the internet'. |
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| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC I never made my opinion on a domestic issue in regards to our President and his actions on our civil liberties here. That being said, it's not fair that I am judged as not caring. ------------------------------------------------------------ |
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| On the chavez threads, this is only my second thread about him. Maybe I could have if I wanted to, posted it in another chavez thread. But considering most somehow turn off-topic into a Bush bashing thread, I decided to make a fresh one as I believe I have the freedom to. Sue me. I'm not going to be intimitated by some 'dudes on the internet'. |
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| Easy, chief. I won't pretend to be a moderator nor would I ever want to be one. My intention was not to "push you around" - it was only a suggestion and has only the power of such. It was a suggestion for future reference, nothing more. |
).
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| Originally posted by metalgearsolid Dude. That isn't just any dude. He is a 40yr old dude with children a wife. And oddly enough he is still in college. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC And how come you guys go nuts if Bush does anything that can be construed as hurting civil liberties or our freedom, but a president like chavez or putin rollback democratic reforms and you're all silent? You change the subject of the thread, you question the need for a thread about a new news article about a country's presidential election. |
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| Originally posted by MisterOpus1 I've got children? Damn, the Mrs. must have been hiding them all this time. Criminity! |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller Show me how Putin rolled back democratic reforms, Doc. |
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| Russian Government Sets Plans To Nationalize Yukos's Chief Unit By GREGORY L. WHITE and BHUSHAN BAHREE Staff Reporters of THE WALL STREET JOURNAL December 31, 2004 Effectively nationalizing the heart of OAO Yukos, Russia's government said it would form a new state oil company based on what had been the embattled oil giant's core operation and offer a minority stake in the new concern to the world's fastest-rising energy consumer, China. The plan confirms Vladimir Putin's determination to control the country's most valuable resources -- oil and natural gas -- and deploy them to Russia's strategic advantage. State ownership of the Yukos unit Yuganskneftegaz, a Siberian giant that singlehandedly produces 1% of the world's crude -- as much as Indonesia -- would supplement the Kremlin's control over gas titan OAO Gazprom, which had been the front-runner to take over the Yukos operation. Gazprom's bid ran into an unexpected hitch when a U.S. court issued an order blocking the company and its Western lenders from participating in the government sale of Yuganskneftegaz, often called Yugansk. The Kremlin scoffed at the order, but the lenders abided by it, forcing Moscow to resort to a hastily contrived scheme involving a front company. That plans appears to have proved too complex. THE RUNDOWN See the main players1 in the Yugos saga and what's next in the oil titan's fight for survival. The new plan might simplify the shift of Yukos assets, and it could be a major boost to energy-hungry China's efforts to get access to fuel reserves around the world. China has been pursuing deals in Ecuador, war-torn Sudan, Canada and Iran, but with mostly modest results so far. It hasn't clinched ownership of a large, traditional oil-producing asset like Yugansk. While China's apparent willingness to invest in the new company shows not all investors are jolted by Moscow's dismantling of Yukos, many foreign shareholders in Russia have been. Foreigners once owned more than a third of Yukos stock. Russia's stock market has been battered since the arrest in October 2003 of its politically ambitious main shareholder and chief executive, Mikhail Khodorkovsky, and the damage has deepened as the Kremlin has piled tax claims on the company that now total $28 billion. Yukos says the claims, along with fines and penalties, exceed the company's revenue for some of the years in question. U.S. investors own 15% of Yukos, and Washington has repeatedly criticized the Kremlin's handling of the Yukos case. Richard Mintz, a spokesman for Yukos in Washington, argued that regardless of the Kremlin's move, Yukos's assets remain protected by U.S. courts. The Kremlin's latest announcement "doesn't change anything," Mr. Mintz said. "And we will seek damages against any party or entity that interferes with them." A State Department official said the latest move, if true, means the Kremlin "has chosen a path contrary to the stated norms and values of a market economy and the rule of law. This will have a chilling effect on foreign investment as well as Russia's role in the global economy." The official said the department is seeking clarification of the Kremlin's plans. Russians also criticized the move: "These actions have inflicted colossal damage on the country," Kremlin economic adviser Andrei Illarionov said on Ekho Moskvy radio yesterday. "They were conducted in a monstrously incompetent way. ...It's becoming clear to all that there was no reason behind this other than a great desire to expropriate private property." The situation remains fluid and could still change, as it has several times in recent weeks. But yesterday's announcement came in an official statement from Viktor Khristenko, Russia's minister of industry and energy. It detailed earlier comments by the influential Kremlin chief of staff, who also holds the post of chairman of Gazprom's board. Mr. Khristenko said the government will create a new 100%-state-owned company based on Yuganskneftegaz. He said Moscow plans to offer as much as 20% to China National Petroleum Corp., in a deal that might allow the Russian company access to CNPC projects in China or elsewhere. Russian officials couldn't provide further details, and CNPC couldn't be reached for comment. China, which has been the single largest driver of surging world oil demand in recent years, has long sought a foothold in the Russian oil industry, which has been the main source of new oil supply on the world market during the past five years. To date, however, the Kremlin has blocked every Chinese attempt to buy privately owned oil assets, preferring to keep Beijing simply as a customer. Allowing CNPC to take a stake in Yugansk -- a 20% stake might cost the Chinese as much as $4 billion -- would help provide a veil of legitimacy for a transaction that otherwise amounts to nationalization, analysts said. Before the auction, Gazprom had discussed with several Western energy companies the possibility of selling a minority stake in Yugansk, but fears of lawsuits from Yukos undermined interest, according to people close to the situation. In yesterday's announcement, Mr. Khristenko said CNPC's possible participation in Yugansk had been agreed to during earlier talks between the governments. Mr. Putin was in Beijing in October and said at the time Russia would welcome Chinese investment in its energy industry. Last week, he hinted that China might be involved in a deal for Yugansk, but didn't provide details. Russian authorities sold Yugansk in a highly controversial auction Dec. 19 to pay off $28 billion in back-tax claims against Yukos. The tax claims are widely believed to be politically motivated, amounting to rates far beyond what the rest of the industry paid at the time. Yukos filed suit in the U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston to try to block the sale, but Russian officials pushed ahead. The U.S. Court said it doesn't have jurisdiction over the Russian government, but issued orders covering Gazprom and its lenders Yukos vowed to continue the fight against the sale, but analysts said the direct involvement of the Russian state in the new deal undermines the chances of success in foreign courts, which are typically loath to challenge overseas governments directly. Gazprom, which is state-controlled but has private shareholders, appeared during the past few days to be on track to acquire Yugansk. Gazprom seemed to have found a way around the U.S. court order by using the state oil company, OAO Rosneft, which is slated to be merged into Gazprom in 2005. But yesterday, Mr. Khristenko said that while the Rosneft merger will go ahead in January, the deal won't include Yugansk, because doing so would mean the state would have to increase its stake in Gazprom beyond the 50% plus one share it planned in the original Rosneft deal. The government has pledged to lift restrictions on foreign ownership of the rest of Gazprom shares once that merger is completed. There was no official word on how the $9.4 billion price for Yugansk will be paid. Analysts said Rosneft, small and already indebted, is unlikely to be able to raise that much money on its own. Gazprom's foreign lenders have refused to violate the U.S. court order. A government official said the possibility of state money being used is under consideration. "This is being decided at the highest levels," she said. Last week, Mr. Putin defended the auction as having been conducted using market methods, saying that the state was merely "ensuring its interests." Analysts said the latest moves suggested a hard-line Kremlin faction known as the siloviki -- literally meaning "men of power," the term refers to people affiliated with the security services -- had gained the upper hand. The faction favors greater state intervention in the economy. The government official said management of the new state oil company would "most likely" come from Rosneft. Those managers are widely viewed as close to the siloviki camp. "The U.S. court gave them a wonderful last-minute opportunity to go ahead with an asset grab they'd been hoping to pull off for months but that had been looking less likely," said Christopher Granville, strategist at United Financial Group, a Moscow investment house, referring to the court order blocking Gazprom's participation in the Yugansk auction. Liberal officials in the Russian government have been increasingly vocal in recent weeks about the chilling effect the Yukos case has had on investment and economic growth in Russia. Yukos and its main shareholders have pledged to continue fighting the Kremlin campaign against the company, but as pressure has mounted in recent weeks, most top executives have fled the country. This week, Yukos failed to make interest payments on some loans. Some analysts hope that Yukos could survive the onslaught in a shrunken form, preserving at least some value for shareholders, who have watched the stock drop from more than $15 a year ago to less than a dollar now. Russian authorities have said they will continue to pursue claims against the company's remaining assets for the rest of the tax bills, which still amount to more than $15 billion, suggesting Yukos might not survive. While the Kremlin appears to have killed a Yukos-sponsored plan to build an oil pipeline from Siberia to China in favor of its own plan for a line to the Pacific Ocean, Moscow has been very careful to ensure that current rail shipments of crude to China continue, even as Yukos, the main supplier, is being dismantled. |
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Business community fears Putin trying to re-nationalize economy Last Updated: Friday, October 31, 2003 | 11:28 AM ET CBC News The freezing of $15 billion worth of shares of a Russian billionaire charged with tax evasion has the business community worried the Russian president is reasserting state control over the economy. Hours after the decision to freeze Mikhail Khodorkovsky's Yukos Oil company shares, Vladimir Putin's pro-business chief of staff, Alexander Voloshin resigned in protest. Khodorkovsky, 40, who was head of Russia's largest oil company, was jailed six days ago. Those in the business community fear the arrest could be the first step in a Kremlin campaign to take back state assets privatized after the collapse of the Soviet Union. The events of recent weeks "include elements that must be interpreted as a reconsideration of the (country's) course," Interfax quoted Anatoly Chubais as saying. Chubais, who is currently heading Russia's electricity monopoly, Unified Energy Systems, was the architect of the post-Soviet privatization program. "They mask as economic charges but they are political charges," Yukos vice-president Hugo Erickson said, calling the charges "spurious." The oil executive is said to be facing charges of embezzlement, tax evasion, fraud, falsifying documents and refusing to cooperate with authorities. Others see the arrest as a government crackdown on Khodorkovsky for openly supporting liberal political parties opposed to Putin. Russian Finance Minister Alexi Kudrun has insisted the business community need not worry. He compared the Yukos case to the Enron Affair in the United States � strictly a criminal case. Putin has given similar assurances to foreign investors. But political analyst Michael McFaul says Putin is finally showing his true colors. "I think we made a mistake in thinking Putin wants Western-style capitalism." |
Yeah, nothing new Yukos and Khodorkovsky.
Read more of The Economist and listen to Dick Cheney speeches.
You people say it's a joke to refer to David Duke articles, well in this case I can say it's a joke to refer to what you posted today.
| quote: |
| Originally posted by star-traveller Yeah, nothing new Yukos and Khodorkovsky. |
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| Read more of The Economist and listen to Dick Cheney speeches. |
| quote: |
| You people say it's a joke to refer to David Duke articles, |
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| well in this case I can say it's a joke to refer to what you posted today. |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller Show me how Putin rolled back democratic reforms, Doc. |
| quote: |
| Originally posted by MisterOpus1 it implies that you are demonstrating a lack of concern for your own country by failing to display your dismay towards your own president stripping away liberties while continually bashing another country for doing the same (i.e. Venenzuela and Chavez). |
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| Originally posted by DevilDogUSMC Geez, this thread is about chavez. Just because I don't start critizing Bush out of nowhere does not mean I lack concern about our country... So like I said, you people need to quit bringing bush into every discussion. I make a thread about chavez, and I'm accused of not caring about civil liberties in the US and how it's Bush's fault... When I choose to discuss my views on american civil liberties, then judge me on what I say, not infering from a concern for a latin american country's system. I care and some others care to talk about it, my reason if you must know is I'm from Latin America. And continually bashing Venezuela? No just thier president and his policies like shutting down opposition media outlets and getting rid of term limits. Just like when you trash Bush policies you wouldn't want people to say all you do is bash America would you? There's a difference... |
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| On the same token, why are you not just as, if not more concerned about our president's actions of stripping away our civil liberties in the same manner as you are about Chavez? |
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| Originally posted by Shakka No kidding--the articles are from 2003 and 2004. Does that make it irrelevant or something? 3 years is too long ago for you? Imagine getting stuck with a tax bill for more than an entire year of revenues! And regardless it was blatant misuse of government force to seize assets. No questions asked. Fuck the investors. A clear step in the direction of westernized democracy! |
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| Originally posted by Shakka I actually have a subscription. Just got it actually. A gift from the father in-law. I definitely read it for the articles, if you catch my drift. |
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| Originally posted by Shakka Because it is and you should know it. Why don't you post your favorite David Duke excerpt and tell us all what you like about it? Gosh, if you love him so much, why don't you marry him? Care to elaborate? |
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| Originally posted by star-traveller Well stick that tabloid into some far-far away hole. I personally don't see any difference in credibility between quotations taken from David Duke's site and those from that yellow-press. |
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