VENEZUELA: HUGO CHAVEZ ELECTED PRESIDENT скачать в хорошем качестве

VENEZUELA: HUGO CHAVEZ ELECTED PRESIDENT

(7 Dec 1998) Spanish/Nat Former Lieutenant Colonel Hugo Chavez, who staged a bloody coup attempt six years ago, has been elected president of Venezuela. The result is a stunning blow to the political and economic establishment which has shared power since the middle of this century. He gained the largest margin in 40 years of democracy. The people of Caracas are celebrating a remarkable election result. Six years after leading a bloody coup attempt, Hugo Chavez rode a wave of fierce public discontent to win Venezuela's presidency. With 78 percent of the vote counted, Chavez had 56 percent compared to 40 percent for Yale-educated businessman Henrique Salas Romer. Terrified by his virulent populist rhetoric, detractors had branded the cashiered lieutenant colonel a dictator-in-waiting, poised to impose a socialist regime. But while the lower classes he championed celebrated wildly in the streets after Sunday's victory, Chavez was busy promising reconciliation. "I don't have even a millimetre of hate or rancour in my heart," he told tens of thousands of supporters, some of them crying from emotion, in the capital Caracas. Chavez also offered to work with "willing and able" politicians from Venezuela's two traditional parties, the centre-left Democratic Action and the centre-right COPEI. Both parties are blamed by most Venezuelans for squandering the world's largest oil reserves outside the Middle East. The parties withdrew their candidates last week to rally behind Henrique Salas Romer, the Yale-educated former state governor Chavez beat into second place. But for his supporters, the victory was sweet. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "This is excellent. It's excellent. It's the restoration of the country's values of dignity. It's the restoration of a lost hope for the well-being of the whole of the Venezuelan population." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "I'm happy, very happy because of the victory of our Commander. He'll improve the country. He'll get rid of corruption and misery in this country which is so rich and has so much potential - enough to have a better way of life." SUPER CAPTION: Voxpop The campaign took on overtones of class warfare. Chavez's militaristic rhetoric terrified middle and upper class Venezuelans, many of whom have already fled to Miami. Supporters donned the trademark red beret sported by their hero. And they carried busts of his mentor, the independence leader Simon Bolivar. Chavez quickly sought to assure investors that he would pursue prudent economic policies. He said he would not impose exchange controls or other radical economic measures as his opponents have claimed. And he pledged to marry left-wing idealism with sensible economic policy - with the support of the man he defeated. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Today we can say with a calm spirit and a calm conscience, everything has been consummated." SUPER CAPTION: Hugo Chavez, Newly elected President of Venezuela His opponent put on a brave face as he accepted his defeat. SOUNDBITE: (Spanish) "Not only do I accept the victory of my adversary, but I also wish him a lot of luck. Because his luck will be the luck of the Venezuelan people." SUPER CAPTION: Enrique Salas Romer, Runner up in presidential race Chavez's call for a new constitution and the dissolving of Congress has scared investors and exacerbated an economic crisis. Foreign oil companies, including Exxon, Mobil, Shell and British Petroleum, have put some of their investment plans on hold. Venezuela is the number one exporter of oil to the United States. Chavez will be sworn in on February 2. Find out more about AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/HowWeWork Twitter:   / ap_archive   Facebook:   / aparchives   ​​ Instagram:   / apnews   You can license this story through AP Archive: http://www.aparchive.com/metadata/you...