APOLOGY DEMAND: Hugo Chavez Wants Apology from King for Verbal Beatdown
While we usually stick to covering actual apologies, Apology Index will sometimes take notice of an interesting demand for an apology. Often, the ensuing apology is fairly inevitable and then we get to discuss the apology too. But in this instance, don't hold your breath.
Last weekend in Chile there was an Ibero-American Summit ... basically a family reunion between Spain and her former colonies in Latin America. Venezuelan dictator and Castro-wannabe Hugo Chavez — who really should not have been seated at the grown-ups table in the first place — took the opportunity to run his mouth and hurl gratuitous insults at foreign leaders:
Mr Chavez called [former Spanish Prime Minister Jose Maria Aznar], a close ally of US President George W Bush, a fascist, adding "fascists are not human. A snake is more human." (BBC)
Real mature, Hugo.
Current, and left-leaning, Spanish Prime Minister Jose Luis
Rodriguez Zapatero — a political rival of Aznar — tried to manage the brat's outburst diplomatically.
Mr Zapatero said: "[Former Prime Minister] Aznar was democratically elected by the Spanish people and was a legitimate representative of the Spanish people."
See, this is how adults do it. The Venezuelan bully boy would have none of it:
Mr Chavez repeatedly tried to interrupt, despite his microphone being turned off.
Sometimes an unruly child just needs a time out. Enter King Juan Carlos of Spain:
The king leaned forward and said: "Why don't you shut up?"
And this is the best part:
According to reports, the king used a familiar term normally used only for close acquaintances - or children.
Oh, snap!
Later at the Summit, Hugo was all blustery:
According to the Associated Press news agency, he said: "I do not offend by telling the truth. The Venezuelan government reserves the right to respond to any aggression, anywhere, in any space and in any manner."
... but, dude, you got owned! No way around it.
CARACAS, Nov 14 (Reuters) - Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez warned Spain on Wednesday he will review diplomatic and business ties with the former colonial power, escalating a dispute that erupted when Spain's king told him in public to "shut up."
Chavez, who nationalized swathes of the economy this year on a drive to turn the major oil exporter into a socialist state, has demanded King Juan Carlos apologize for reprimanding him and threatened to take action against Spanish investments, especially in banking.
"We do not want to hurt ties, but right now I am conducting a detailed review of the political, diplomatic and economic ties with Spain," the Cuban ally told local television.
"This means Spanish companies are going to have to show
what their businesses are doing. I am going to take a look and
see what's happening in those companies," he added. (Reuters)
In Venezuela he's a big shot. He can rewrite the constitution to make himself dictator-for-life, rig elections, shut down critical media outlets, nationalize everything in sight, suck up to Castro, give aid and comfort to Marxist rebels in neighboring Colombia, and give long rambling speeches about socialism. It's a one-man show. All Hugo, all the time. And if Venezuelans really want that ... well, it's their country to wreck.
But when he takes his show on the road, Hugo wears thin fast. This wasn't his first time being a complete jerk in a high-profile public setting:
It was Chavez, you might remember, who famously called President Bush "the devil" at a United Nations address last year. (USA Today)
To be sure, many people don't like President Bush. But when American citizens insult the President it's our First Amendment at work. Foreign dictators had best mind their manners when they venture out of their little sandboxes.
As King Juan Carlos so aptly reminded Hugo the Brat.
So will the King apologize, in the face of Hugo's threats to hold his breath until he turns blue — and retaliate against Spanish businesses in Venezuela? Don't count on it.
In the interest of fairness, Chavez isn't crazy and doesn't say these outrageous things because he doesn't know any better. He knows exactly what he's doing, just like Britney Spears knows what she's doing when she "forgets" to put on underwear before going out. He's creating a distraction and playing to the crowd back home:
the controversy has sparked headlines around the world and eclipsed debate in Venezuela over Chavez's effort to win approval in a Dec. 2 referendum to expand his powers, including ending term limits. (Reuters)
Much more important that some verbal dust-up ... but much less sexy as news.
Political analysts say Chavez relishes such fights because he uses them to fire up his support base among the majority poor at home with blunt rhetoric that plays on their misgivings of rich countries' investments in Latin America.
He needs to energize his supporters this month because he acknowledges there could be low turnout for the plebiscite.
Chavez is a canny power player ... and he knows that demanding an apology is often a clever move to keep the story alive ... and keep the audience distracted while he tightens his grip on power at home.
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