Chavez accelerates on path to socialism
By Nathalie Malinarich
BBC News
 

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez had always said that with his new term in office, beginning on 10 January, the socialist revolution would start in earnest. And, after his resounding victory on 3 December, he has wasted no time.

 
 
Before even being sworn in for the third time, Mr Chavez has said that he wants to merge all his coalition partners into a single party, warned he will not renew an opposition TV channel's licence and announced he will nationalise key businesses.

He has also called on the National Assembly to give him the power to rule by decree and replaced his Vice-President, Jose Vicente Rangel, seen as a key figure in his previous administration.

While some of the announcements themselves have not come as a complete surprise, for many, the intensity and pace of the change has.

'Surprises'

Exactly what the so-called deepening of the Bolivarian Revolution - named in honour of the 19th Century independence hero - would entail was not made clear during the presidential campaign.

Complete Story:  http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/6246219.stm

 

Kay