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Venezuela: Politics and Government

Answer

Venezuela is currently going through a difficult period both economically and politically. Water and electricity shortages across Venezuela have worsened, with cuts of up to five hours per day in the states of Táchira, Mérida, Falcón and Bolivar. Caracas, which has been deliberately spared, is now also affected by water cuts, particularly in the barrios. There are genuine concerns that electricity supplies to Caracas will be severely affected too. The Guri dam, which supplies more than 70 per cent. of Venezuela's electricity, is at its lowest level for years and Venezuela is only in the first of a six-month 'dry season'. Most of this reflects lack of investment, not helped by the highest per capita energy and water use in the region resulting from economically distorting subsidies and price controls.Although oil prices have recovered, the economy contracted around 1.5 per cent. in 2009, which in turn has limited the Government's ability to sustain previous levels of social spending. With subsidies reducing, important social "missions" such as Mercal, the subsidised food programme, have had to increase prices (by as much as 80 per cent. on some lines). The weekly consumer basket remains about 30 per cent. higher than the minimum wage. Inflation remains high at, officially, 27 per cent.On the weekend of 26 January 2010, the Venezuelan Government took six cable television channels off the air for not televising a Government message. The privately owned RCTV International, openly opposed to President Hugo Chavez, is one of those affected. This has led to major student protests with reports of at least one student being killed in the city of Mérida. There has been strong condemnation from the US and EU partners on the closure of the stations.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

505 c242-3W; 314417

Session

2009-10

Subjects

Politics and government Venezuela

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk