His opponent, Manual Rosales, was backed by a coalition of pro-imperialist parties. He conceded and did not claim electoral fraud, as the opposition has done in previous elections.

U.S. ambassador William Brownfield tried to sound a conciliatory tone. "The president was reelected by the decision of the Venezuelan people," he told the media. "We're ready, willing, and eager to explore and see if we can make progress on bilateral issues."

"I doubt the U.S. government is sincere," Chávez responded. "They want dialogue but on the condition that you accept their positions."

U.S. officials have repeatedly accused Venezuela's government of "destabilizing" the region and being a "negative force" in Latin America. Washington backed a military coup against Chávez in April 2002, a bosses’ lockout at the end of that year, and a drive by the pro-imperialist opposition to oust the president through a recall referendum in 2004. Each of these efforts failed in face of outpourings of popular support for the elected government.

Since taking office in 1998, the Chávez government has angered many Venezuelan capitalists by passing a series of laws, including an agrarian reform law, measures allowing for greater state control of the country's oil resources, and steps to improve ties with Cuba. Encouraged by these openings, workers and peasants have fought for land, jobs, and more democratic rights. These struggles have alarmed many among the national bourgeoisie and its U.S. backers.

Much of the media coverage of the recent vote highlighted post-election statements by Chávez that he will deepen his government's "socialism of the 21st century."

For the most part, however, the U.S. big-business press has not appeared very worried. "This is hardly the first time Chávez has boisterously threatened further radicalization of his revolution, and Venezuela is still far from the Latin American Marxist nightmare that Washington fears it will become," said an article in the December 5 online edition of Time magazine.
 
 
Related article:
Venezuela forum: Free five Cuban revolutionaries imprisoned in U.S.  
 
 
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