Venezuela, Chile Politics Undergo Shake Up At Start Of 2008

Caracas, Venezuela (AHN) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is pushing for a socialist system, unveiling a five-point program that will drive the political shift in the Latin American nation. He asked newly appointed Vice President Ramon Carrizales to take charge of crafting laws that will bring the nation to a model of socialism for the 21st century.

The cabinet revamp last week that led to the appointment of Carrizales is Mr. Chavez's response to his resounding loss at the referendum on December that proposed a constitutional reform. To get around public opinion, he launched the political shift apparently to strengthen his hold on power. The constitutional reform is the second agenda.

The third is to change the way Venezuelans think. Part of his strategy is to open training centers for socialists leaders to help him push the idea of shifting towards socialism. On Monday he opened one in Miranda state, the 32nd in the country.

Mr. Chavez proposed the relaunch of the Communal Power as the main tool to bring together popular power by providing resources to community councils.

President Chavez is set to shake up his cabinet in the coming days as part of his strategy to push for constitutional reforms. He blamed his cabinet for his loss in the recent referendum.

Meanwhile, in Chile, Interior Minister Belisario Velasco resigned last week, reportedly over his being marginalized in making vital national decisions, while a new cabinet member is gaining the favor of Chilean President Michelle Bachelet.

As Interior Minister, Velasco acted as Vice President whenever Ms. Bachelet went on overseas trips. He was first Undersecretary of the Interior during the term of former President Patricio Aylwin and held on to the post until the term of President Eduardo Frei. Velasco was later appointed as Chile's ambassador to different European nations before he was appointed by President Bachelet as Interior Secretary.

He reportedly resents the closeness of new Secretary to the President Francisco Vidal, amid political buzz that he is among those to be removed from office in a cabinet revamp that Ms. Bachelet is expected to announce soon.

Pending the cabinet shake-up, the president did not name Velasco's replacement but instead appointed Interior Ministry Undersecretary Felipe Harboe as officer in charge. A month earlier, presidential Spokesman Ricardo Lagos Weber quit his job. He was replaced by Vidal.

Velasco told Chilean reporters, "For days now I have felt that I have been through an important period in the Interior Ministry... The President has announced that she wants to begin the second stage (of her term). We had a pleasant meeting this afternoon, during which time I turned in my non-negotiable resignation. It was accepted."