Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
08SAOPAULO183
2008-04-08 16:08:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Consulate Sao Paulo
Cable title:
MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'S
how-toVZCZCXYZ0009 OO RUEHWEB DE RUEHSO #0183 0991608 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 081608Z APR 08 FM AMCONSUL SAO PAULO TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 8120 INFO RHEHNSC/NATIONAL SECURITY COUNCIL WASHDC IMMEDIATE RUEHBR/AMEMBASSY BRASILIA PRIORITY 9253 RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO PRIORITY 8673 RUCPDOC/USDOC WASHDC 3057
UNCLAS SAO PAULO 000183
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE INR/R/MR; IIP/R/MR; WHA/PD
DEPT PASS USTR
USDOC 4322/MAC/OLAC/JAFEE
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: KMDR OPRC OIIP ETRD BR
SUBJECT: MEDIA REACTION: WESTERN HEMISPHERE: VENEZUELA, CHAVEZ'S
REGIONAL AND INTERNATIONAL INFLUENCE
"Chavez loses support due to shortage and inflation"
Business-oriented Valor Econtmico (4/8) states: "Since losing the
December referendum that would change the Constitution, President
Hugo Chavez' popularity has declined systematically...there are
shortages of bread, milk and other basic goods in supermarkets while
prices keep soaring. Venezuela already has the highest rate of
inflation in Latin America... . The economic policies of the
president [Chavez] are to blame for the significant distortions the
country faces nowadays... .The endless nationalizations...overvalued
exchange rate...creation of a severe law to fight stocking of
goods...criminalizing the release of the exchange rate on the black
market...trying to deter imports...limiting credit card purchases...
are cosmetic measures that will not bring balance back to the
economy and, therefore, will affect Chavez' popularity even more at
a time when he needs to win a new political battle. There will be
elections for governor in the second semester and the
opposition...may win and crack the until now monolithic power model
of the Bolivarian leader.
White