Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva faced sharp criticism after publicly supporting Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who is seeking re-election on 3 December. Both Venezuelan electoral officials and Brazilian opposition figures objected to Lula's remarks during his Monday visit to Caracas.
Vicente Diaz of Venezuela's National Electoral Council said the Brazilian leader had no standing to comment on a Venezuelan election, calling it undue interference in the country's internal affairs. Two Brazilian senators, one conservative and one social democratic, separately accused Lula of neglecting his own governing duties to campaign on Chavez's behalf.
During his visit, Lula drew parallels between Chavez's political path and his own, arguing that both leaders faced resistance from entrenched elites. He also said Venezuela had never had a government so focused on the poor, which he suggested explained the opposition Chavez faces from wealthier segments of society.
Venezuelan opposition candidate Manuel Rosales dismissed Lula's support as insufficient to rescue the Chavez government, while his campaign chief accused Lula of serving a political client. Chavez has been a polarizing international figure, known for confrontational anti-US rhetoric, including calling President George W. Bush "the devil" at the United Nations in September. Lula, himself re-elected on 29 October, noted that both leaders would face greater demands in their coming terms.
Historical summary. TurkishPress restated this wire report, first published in November 2006, in its own words.