Even by the standards of President Hugo Chávez , last weekend's
Aló Presidente broadcast was exceptional for the sheer number of issues
broached, all of which spawned myriad column inches. Chávez threatened to leave
the Organization of American States (OAS) and set up his own parallel
organisation; to act against media that persisted in “spreading messages of
hate"; he confirmed the expropriation of 10,000 hectares of land to increase
food production; and announced the impending purchase of Banco de Venezuela from
Spain's Banco Santander on 22 May. The most important development, however, was
the new strategy he revealed at the tail end of last week to try and combat
dwindling oil revenues.End of preview - This article contains approximately 540 words.
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