As many as 15 million Venezuelans watch “Aló, Presidente” every week. That is almost half of the entire country.
In that show, Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez talks extemporaneously about whatever he wants. The show runs for as long as he wants it to.
Much of the Frontline episode revolves around “Aló, Presidente.”
It shows how the audience, all dressed in red like Chávez, applauds politely where appropriate.
His cabinet ministers cringe during the show because he frequently calls on them to answer questions on the spot instead of giving them time to research the topic.
Chávez has boyish charm and stands acceptable presidential behavior on its head. He can come off as goofy but it is that “regular guy” appearance that makes him so very popular with the disenfranchised in his country.
While a clown to some, Chávez is also demonized in the United States, in part because of his close relationships with Cuba’s Fidel Castro and Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad. He also identifies himself with Latin leftist presidents such as Bolivia’s Evo Morales and Ecuador’s Rafael Correa.
While Chávez excoriates the United States, he understands that he needs American refineries as much as the United States needs Venezuela’s crude oil.
Frontline: The Hugo Chávez Show is satisfying because it doesn’t paint Chávez with a broad brush or cast him as either hero or demon.
All politics is complex and this Frontline episode illustrates that.
Is Chávez a petro-dictator? A populist hero? Or a buffoon?
Maybe he is all or none of those.
Frontline: The Hugo Chávez Show is available to rent
Murphy can be reached at: [email protected]
