Global Security Studies Practicum

7 December 2011 President Chavez meets with President Hu Jintao of China in 2008. In a public statement on 6 December, President Hugo Chavez said China could surpass the US and become Venezuela ’s top trade partner. Growing economic ties between Venezuela and China have strengthened their strategic alliance in the last few years, amounting to US20 billion in trade. China previously agreed to more than US32 billion in loans to the South American country, while the latter increased oil shipments to China in return. Source:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/americas/chavez-china-story.html (Reliability: 9.0) Comment: The loan agreements with China provides key support to Chavez as he looks to finance spending in social programs ahead of next year’s presidential elections. Meanwhile, relations between the US and Venezuela remain strained. The US Embassy in Caracas is without an ambassador since July 2010 and the US has revoked the visa of the Venezuelan ...

30 Novemeber 2011 Shoppers stock up on toilet paper and at a supermarket in Caracas. Price controls announced by the Venezuelan government came into effect on 22 November, causing panic buying of regulated goods and leading to shortages of staples like coffee and toilet paper. The recent price cap placed on certain goods has led many to stock their homes and resell the products at a profit in the black market. Authorities announced they will visit stores to ensure availability of regulated products. Source:  http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-25/chavez-price-caps-spark-panic-buying-of-coffee-toilet-paper.html (Reliability: 8.5) Comment: Price control regulations took effect on 22 November in an attempt to slow Venezuela’s 26.9% inflation rate registered in October 2011, the highest in the Western Hemisphere. A freeze on 18 personal care items ranging from toothpaste to deodorant is expected to last until mid-January. The measure comes less than a year before preside...

23 November 2011 President Chavez announced price controls via a state TV address. The Venezuelan government  extended price controls to 18 products in a bid to curb the country's 27% inflation rate. In a state television address, President Hugo Chavez announced a price freeze to “protect people from capitalism” and prevent “the big monopolies, the big trans-nationals and the bourgeoisie [to] dominate and ransack the people.” Meanwhile, critics of President Chavez say high levels of public spending and currency controls are the factors contributing to inflation. The government first introduced price controls on food staples in 2003. Source:  http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-15850784 (Reliability: 9.0) Comment: The extended economic measures by the Venezuelan government come less than a year before the October 2012 presidential elections. President Chavez’s latest price control initiative is likely to cement his popularity among the lower classe...

18 October 2011 Leopoldo Lopez speaks during a news conference. Reuters ( CARACAS ) – Venezuela ’s Supreme Court ruled against opposition leader Leopoldo Lopez on 18 October, blocking him from running in the 2012 presidential elections. The ruling follows an opposite verdict by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights (IACHR) on September 2011, allowing Lopez to run for president and dismissing charges of corruption and mishandling of public funds claimed by the Chavez administration. Despite the ruling by Venezuela's Court, Lopez said he will remain in the race against Hugo Chavez. Source:  http://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-blocks-chavez-rivals-presidential.html (Reliability: 9) Comment: The decision by Venezuela ’s Supreme Court is not surprising given how the Chavez administration dismissed past rulings by the IACHR. Lopez is a leading contender in the upcoming opposition’s presidential primary slated for 12 February, when a single unity candidate will be chose...

12 October 2011 President Chavez talks about his health to the media. Associated Press ( CARACAS ) – President Hugo Chavez of Venezuela will return to Cuba  during the week of 16 October to undergo another round of medical tests. The announcement was issued by the president during a telephone interview via state-run television on 10 October. President Chavez previously said he finished his final round of chemotherapy but remains under observation for signs of recurrence. Cuban doctors removed a tumor from the president’s pelvic region in June without revealing details about his type of cancer. Source:  http://www.miamiherald.com/chavez-cuba.html (Reliability: 9) Comment: The president’s announcement comes amid questions regarding his ability to run for Venezuela ’s presidential elections set for 7 October 2012. Without an obvious successor matching his popular and charismatic ways, it is likely that Chavez’s socialist movement will significantly weaken after...

5 October 2011 Leopoldo Lopez talks to media outlets. Dow Jones Newswires (CARACAS) – The Inter-American Court of Human Rights ( IACHR ) ruled in favor of opposition politician Leopoldo Lopez on 17 September, allowing him to run in Venezuela ’s upcoming 2012 presidential elections. Venezuelan officials barred Lopez from seeking public office in 2005 through 2014 under allegations of mishandling public funds and corruption. Supporters of Lopez argue the charges are a ploy to prevent him and other opposition politicians from running for office. General elections are slated for 7 October 2012 amid questions regarding President Hugo Chavez’s health. Source: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20110916-712977.html (Reliability: 9) Comment: Despite the IACHR’s ruling in favor of Lopez, Venezuelan officials under President Chavez have ignored the court’s rulings in the past and banned presidential hopefuls from running for office. Lopez is emerging as one of the top con...