Hugo Chavez feels 'persecuted like Christ'

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, back in Caracas after a diplomatic spat with the King of Spain, has likened his situation to the persecution of Jesus Christ.

Mr Chavez, who was told by King Juan Carlos to "shut up" at a summit in Chile, said if he were to keep quiet "the stones of the people of Latin America would cry out", paraphrasing words used by Christ in Jerusalem shortly before his crucifixion.

The Venezuelan information ministry later issued press releases detailing the relevant passages in the Bible to ensure the message was clear.

Mr Chavez also accused the king of supporting a coup that briefly removed him from power in 2002.

He added that the king's public rebuke of his interruptions during a speech by Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero, the Spanish prime minister, demonstrated a colonial superiority complex.
Hugo Chavez feels 'persecuted like Christ' - Telegraph

Like Jesus, I think a good ol' crucifiction is in order.

Oh yeah........props to the King of Spain!!!:thumbsup:

Have a good one!:s4:

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on Tuesday things "will not go well" for Spanish banks if Madrid heightens tensions in a diplomatic flap over the country's king telling him to shut up.

King Juan Carlos asked Chavez "why don't you shut up" at a summit in Chile over the weekend after Chavez interrupted a speech by Prime Minister Jose Luis Rodriguez Zapatero.

The leftist who had used the meeting to rail against conservative ex-Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar, has said the rebuke is reminiscent of Spanish colonial rule in Latin America.

"Spanish investment in Venezuela is not indispensable for us, Banco Bilbao Vizcaya, Banco Santander ... we don't need them," Chavez said at a news conference.

"So if the government of Spain or the state of Spain ... starts to generate a conflict, things are not going to go well."

Chavez earlier this year threatened to nationalize banks amid a wave of state takeovers, although most analysts have said he is more likely to boost regulations over the sector.

The self-described socialist leader who calls capitalism an evil has had diplomatic spats with countries from Britain to Mexico, but they have rarely harmed bilateral trade ties or directly affected foreign businesses.

The No. 1 target for Chavez's invective is the United States, but Venezuela remains a major U.S. oil supplier.

Spanish businesses have invested $2.4 billion in Venezuela since Chavez took office in 1999, according to Spain's Business and Commerce Council


Grupo Santander has some $700 million in investment in Venezuela, while Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria SA has $670 million invested, according to figures provided by the companies.

BBVA and Santander also respectively own Banco Provincial SA and Banco de Venezuela, two of the largest banks in the OPEC nation's financial system.
Amid flap, Venezuela's Chavez warns on Spanish banks | International | Reuters

It's GOOD to be the Dictator!

Have a good one!:s4:

Quote:

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likened his situation to the persecution of Jesus Christ.

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Yea, him and Charles Mason.

CARACAS (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez demanded on Tuesday Spain's king apologize for telling him to shut up, warning that Spanish investments could suffer in its former colony because of the spat.

Chavez, who railed against imperialism and capitalism, named banks Santander and BBVA as possible targets, saying the OPEC nation did not need Spanish business.

"The king lost it," Chavez said at a late-night political rally. "He should say, '... I, the king, confess, I was beside myself, I made a mistake.'"
Chavez to Spanish king: apologize or risk business | International | Reuters

I don't think the King of Spain is going to kiss this lil' dictators ass.

Have a good one!:s4: