July 5, 2001- -
Chavez Asks World to Respect Venezuelan Revolution***Foreign and local critics of the left-leaning Venezuelan leader, who has vowed to bring social justice to his oil-rich but poverty-plagued nation through a ``peaceful revolution,'' have accused him of moving toward authoritarian rule.
His popularity remains high, but opponents cite his actions over the last two years during which he toppled an opposition-controlled Congress, rewrote the constitution, purged the judiciary and gained power to legislate by decree.***
Well his popularity has tanked.
When he couldn't take over by coup, Chavez took over with a campaign of lies. After he won he pushed through a constitution to cement his dictatorship.