23. July 2011
Cancer stricken Venezuela President Hugo Chavez continue to govern his country via Twitter. (Photo: guardian.co.uk)
The widely popular social networking website Twitter can also be used to govern people.
This developed after cancer stricken Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez is using Twitter in governing his country while he undergoes medical treatment in nearby Cuba. According to reports, Chavez continue to make his presence felt in Venezuela by issuing orders and statements via Twitter for his people who had supported his government all these years.
In more than 40 messages this week on his “chavezcandanga” account, he has approved money for a Caracas trash collection project, praised plans for a new park and cheered on the national soccer team. In his Twitter account Chavez hasn’t mentioned anything about his chemotherapy but has alluded to his personal battle time and again, as he did in one tweet to a supporter on Tuesday: “We’re moving along here, brother! With God and the Virgin!”.
Most of his messages have had the tone of a patriotic father figure connecting with his public. Chavez boasts more than 1.8 million followers, and his messages also regularly pop up on the screen on state television in Venezuela. The sick president has known the importance of Twitter which is why he is using it to continually connect with his people despite his medical condition.
The 56-year-old Chavez underwent surgery in Cuba on June 20 to remove a cancerous tumor. He hasn’t said what type of cancer has been diagnosed or specified where exactly it was located, saying only that it was in his pelvic region.He says chemotherapy is necessary to ensure cancer cells don’t reappear. On Twitter, his only references to his treatment have been vague and filled with optimistic slogans.
As he signed off one night, the message read: “From here, closing another day of this Battle for Life.”Chavez is the 56th President of Venezuela, having held that position since 1999. He was formerly the leader of the Fifth Republic Movement political party from its foundation in 1997 till 2007, when he became the leader of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV).
Following his own political ideology of Bolivarianism and “Socialism for the 21st Century”, he has focused on implementing socialist reforms in the country as a part of a social project known as the Bolivarian Revolution, which has seen the implementation of a new constitution, participatory democracy and the nationalisation of several key industries.
(rockefellernews/rb)
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