With Fidel Castro sidelined by illness, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez stormed through Cuba this week and stole the limelight from his ailing mentor.
Eight hours of Chavez speeches - including his weekly "Alo Presidente" show were broadcast live during his three-day visit to Cuba, a burst of rhetoric not seen since Castro dropped out of public view after intestinal surgery last year.
Chavez, bolstered by soaring oil prices, has emerged as Castro's political successor and the new leader of Latin America's growing left-wing bloc, which also includes Bolivia, Ecuador and Nicaragua.
Cuban cabinet ministers wore red T-shirts traditionally used by Chavez supporters in Venezuela as they listened to him propose that Cuba join Venezuela in a confederation.
"Deep down, we are one single government, one single country," the swaggering Venezuelan populist said on Sunday at the tomb of revolutionary icon Ernesto "Che" Guevara in Santa Clara in central Cuba.
His remarks and increasing confidence raised questions about his political influence in Cuba now that Castro is largely out of the picture.
Chavez did most of the talking when the 81-year-old Castro, who has not appeared in public in almost 15 months, called in by telephone on Sunday to Chavez's radio and television program broadcast live to Cuba and Venezuela.
Chavez's call for political union surprised Cubans who welcome his economic aid but take pride in the independence of their country, which has faced off with the United States since Castro's 1959 revolution.
Source: China Daily/agencies
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article