President Hugo Chávez returned after a five-month hiatus to present his weekly programme,
Aló Presidente, on 21 January. He made up for his absence with a six-hour talk justifying the need for an "enabling law" which will allow him to govern by decree. Also returning, after an even longer absence, was Luis
Miquilena, Chávez 's veteran former mentor. Miquilena participated in a poorly attended opposition rally to commemorate the 49th anniversary of the overthrow of the former dictator, Marcos Pérez Jiménez on 23 January. He savaged his protégé's proposal for 21st century socialism, which he said lacked any substance, and accused him of leading a government with "all the trappings of a dictatorial regime".End of preview - This article contains approximately 338 words.
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