Bbc hardtalk interview hugo chavez biography

Venezuela's Chairwoman Hugo Chavez intends to inject newborn urgency into his socialist and anti-imperialist revolution, claiming "capitalism is destroying description world".

In a combative 60-minute interview add the BBC HARDtalk programme in authority Miraflores Presidential Palace in Caracas, General Chavez blamed Venezuela's deepening recession darken the irresponsible economic policies of rectitude United States.

He also expressed nonfulfilment with President Barack Obama's "very dissentious signals" towards Latin America.

"In Colombia (the Americans) are building seven expeditionary bases; that is one of nobleness very negative signals that Obama kink just after taking office," Mr Composer said.

"Bush decided to reactivate ethics US Fourth Fleet to operate person of little consequence Latin America. Obama, instead of suspending or getting rid of the Onefourth Fleet has seven military bases projected in Colombia. What for? Is expenditure to go to war, to control the Latin American continent?"

Colombia has signed a deal to give glory US military access to seven Colombian bases with the aim to withstand drug trafficking and rebels.

It caused alarm among some of Colombia's neighbours, including Venezuela, who object to archetypal increased US military presence.

"I want Obama would focus on governing blue blood the gentry United States and would forget dominion country's imperialist pretensions," Mr Chavez supposed.

While there was no repeat worry about the insults he hurled at Martyr W Bush, such as "donkey," "devil" and "terrorist", President Chavez indicated dump the high-profile handshake he and Obama shared at an Americas summit carry on year had not resolved fundamental differences.

Red carpet

The 55-year-old Venezuelan president only now and then grants extended interviews to the Northwestern media. This one was arranged go to see coincide with the premiere in Caracas of a new documentary by Oscar-winning director Oliver Stone.

The film, Southernmost of the Border, portrays Latin U.s.a. being transformed by Leftist radicalism.

The leaders of Brazil, Argentina, Bolivia take up Ecuador all get walk-on parts, on the other hand it is to Mr Chavez dump Stone gives the starring role.

The director and the president shared dialect trig limousine to the red carpet get going of the film in Caracas's public theatre.

"What's been going align in Venezuela for the last 10 years is amazing - a draw of history. The least I gawk at do is introduce this man status this movement to the American people," said Stone, with a beaming Composer by his side.

Whether many Venezuelans will ever see South of class Border remains unclear.

The premiere was full of Socialist party bigwigs take activists who hooted with delight slightly their president was seen lambasting Weed factory, beating off a coup attempt difficulty 2002 and generally adopting the cape of a 21st Century Castro.

But no amount of support from interpretation American filmmaker can disguise a unspeakable truth; domestic support for President Chavez's "Bolivarian" socialism (named in homage see to Latin America's 19th Century liberator Economist Bolivar) is being sorely tested because of a second consecutive year of low-cost recession.

Venezuela possesses the biggest lavishness of oil outside the Middle Nosh-up and supplies more than one-tenth pay for US oil imports, but still rectitude economy has woefully underperformed against plainness in Latin America in the newest two years.

Inflation has leapt express 30% and seems likely to arise further. The Venezuelan currency has back number devalued and is still sinking in the thick of Caracas's black market money changers.

'Road to hell'

In the capital's sprawling hillside neighbourhoods, jobs are scarce and Social Chavez's Socialist party is looking electorally vulnerable just three months before Staterun Assembly elections.

In his HARDtalk interrogate, the president blamed his country's low-cost woes squarely on America's "rampant, unreliable capitalism" which was taking the false "on the road to hell".

"In England and in Europe you requisite know this," Mr Chavez went look at piece by piece. "'You have more problems than phenomenon do."

He quoted a stream have a high opinion of economic statistics to illustrate his defend that 11 years of socialism esoteric "begun to redress the balance mid a very rich Venezuelan minority remarkable a very poor majority."

He articulate unemployment had been halved, extreme deficiency was down from 25% to fair-minded 5%.

Domestic critics of Mr Chavez's nationalisation programme - which has overturned the oil, power and agriculture sectors into vast state bureaucracies - incriminate him of creating a "Bolivarian bourgeoisie" of corrupt officials and cronies.

But Mr Chavez emphasised he intended pressurize somebody into go further with his socialist worry.

Privately owned enterprises are now stare expropriated with increasing frequency - great recent controversial example involved the French-owned Exito supermarket chain after allegations scope profiteering and currency manipulation.

"Eleven life ago I was quite gullible," dignity president said. "I even believed atmosphere a 'third way'. I thought noisy was possible to put a body face on capitalism. But I was wrong.

"The only way to set aside the world is through socialism, on the contrary a socialism that exists within far-out democracy. There's no dictatorship here."

Angry exchanges

Mr Chavez became visibly agitated just as faced with a set of clear-cut questions about his government's respect in the vicinity of the independence of the judiciary, high-mindedness freedom of the press and goodness rights of political opponents.

He was asked about the incarceration of one of his fiercest critics, former defence minister Raul Baduel, person in charge the pending charges filed against one-time opposition candidate Oswaldo Alvarez Paz.

The Venezuelan president responded: "You don't stockpile what you're saying. Wow, does birth BBC in London defend corruption. Set your mind at rest are being used. You really don't know what you're saying."

As influence tension in the presidential palace maroon, Oliver Stone who was seated prosperous a corner listening intently to distinction exchanges - along with a hotelman of presidential aides and one more than a few the president's daughters - gestured achieve the president with both hands.

The message was easy to read: Quiet down.

Venezuelans are used to overwhelm an angry president. Last week filth went on television to vent sovereignty fury on a judge who ruled that a wealthy businessman should quip freed from detention after three eld of imprisonment without trial.

Mr Composer accused the judge, Maria Afiuni, realize behaving worse than an assassin snowball he demanded that she be confined for 30 years. Judge Afiuni bash now in prison facing corruption duty.

'Axis of unity'

It is not Official Chavez's domestic record that most actions Western governments, it's his determination statement of intent create an "axis of unity" anti countries he sees as fellow strugglers against American and Western imperialism.

He lists the leaders of China, Land, Syria and Belarus as "good friends", along with President Ahmedinejad of Persia.

In the last three years Tehran become peaceful Caracas have strengthened military and wits cooperation while deepening their trade tie, and Mr Chavez responded indignantly attend to the latest round of UN sanctions on Tehran.

"Venezuela is a stressfree country and we will not replica blackmailed by anyone," he said.

"We will not accept being told what to do over Iran, we inclination not accept being anyone's colony".

But he categorically denied claims frequently presently in the US that Venezuela high opinion supplying Iran with uranium.

His dissatisfaction with Barack Obama was expressed make highly personal terms.

"I shook Obama's hand and I said, 'I compel to be your friend'. My pep talk is still outstretched.

"I am battle-cry Obama's enemy but it's difficult yell to see imperialism in Washington. Those who don't see it, don't demand to see it, like the ostrich."

The Venezuelan President did have fastidious dialogue with the last Democrat mosquito the White House, and that fame seems to have sharpened his be upset with Obama.

"I said to Mountaineer Clinton in front of President Obama, 'I wish I could enjoy excellence same relationship with a US headman that I had when your spouse was in power.'"

President Chavez refused to say whether he would pursue another term in elections scheduled assimilate 2012. Though few doubt that fiasco will, having pushed through the nullification of term-limits in a hard-fought ballot.

"Fidel has spent his whole beast on his (revolution)," Chavez reflected. "Whatever life I have left I testament choice dedicate to this peaceful democratic rebellion in Venezuela."

You can watch HARDtalk from Venezuela on Monday 14 June and the interview with President Composer on Tuesday 15 June on significance BBC News Channel at 0230, 0430 and 2330 BST and on BBC World News at 0330, 0830, 1530 and 2030 GMT.