Chavez ties Merkel to Hitler ahead of EU-Latin America Summit

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez on Sunday attacked German Chancellor Angela Merkel, comparing her to Adolf Hitler in response to her criticism of the South American leader's policies.

Merkel belongs to the political right, "the same right that supported Hitler, fascism," Chavez said on his television programme, Alo Presidente.

Chavez's remarks came after Merkel said that the left-wing leader is not the voice of the region.

Merkel, speaking in an interview to Deutsche Presse-Agentur dpa ahead of the European Union-Latin American summit, indicated that leftist polices pursued by leaders like Chavez were not the solution.

Pointing to the emergence of "left-wing populism" in some of the nations of Latin America, Merkel said: "Based on our experience in Europe, I don't believe that state-guided economies can provide a better or more sustainable response to such pressing problems."

By tasco66 on May 16, 2008, 06:10 in Politics & the war.

tasco66 says on May 16, 2008, 06:10:

Peruvian president defends Germany's Merkel in verbal spat with Venezuela's Chavez

The Associated Press
Friday, May 16, 2008
LIMA, Peru: Peruvian President Alan Garcia has come to the defense of German Chancellor Angela Merkel in a verbal spat with Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez.

Chavez earlier this week lashed out against the German leader, saying her conservative Christian Democratic Union party shares the political ideals of Adolf Hitler.

Merkel had said Chavez does not speak for all of Latin America.

"No one has a reason to use exaggerated or insulting terms with respect to another country or leader because that reduces the level of discourse," Garcia said in a joint news conference Thursday with Merkel at the presidential palace.

European and Latin American leaders are gathering in Lima to tackle climate change, high food prices and poverty. But those issues may be overshadowed by tensions in the region.

On Thursday, Interpol said that computer files suggesting Venezuela was arming and financing Colombian guerrillas came from a rebel camp and were not tampered with, discrediting Venezuela's assertions that Colombia faked them.

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez denounced the report as "ridiculous" and said a "clown show" surrounded the announcement.

But the findings increase pressure on Chavez to explain his relationship with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia, or FARC.

Bravo, Presidente Uribe for the perfect operation!

0 funny, 0 helpful.

huskie says on May 17, 2008, 15:54:

I heard on BBC tonight, that Chavez has apologized to Merkel on his comments about Hitler.
Cheers

"Great spirits have always encountered violent opposition from mediocre minds-"

0 funny, 0 helpful.