Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez, who has been holding that position since the year 1999 and has been successfully ruling the country since, is now controlling his administration via Twitter. The former United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) leader was diagnosed with an unspecified cancer earlier this year. While he is undergoing treatment in Cuba, Twitter is providing him ample opportunities to approve government programs and even cheer and show his support for the country’s soccer team in the Copa America tournament.
Hugo, who is presently 56 years in age, took office in the year 1999 and has remained in power since being re-elected twice. Known for implementing socialist reforms in the country, the President is now approaching the end of his third term and has showed desire to remain in power still. This is possible legally as the Venezuelan Constitution does not put any restriction to the number of times a person can be re-elected to that post. The man’s popularity can be gauged by the fact that he has 1.8 million followers on Twitter. He is exercising the already hit formula used by the candidates in United States to gain support from the public prior to elections via social media. Tweeting more than 40 messages this week on his Twitter account that goes by the name @chavezcandanga he made a few serious commitments too which included giving the nod to more than a million dollar programs.
Chavez underwent a surgery for the removal of a serious tumour from his body in Cuba and has been there since. He has completed the first stage of chemotherapy successfully and is now preparing for the second phase of his cancer treatment. Neither the President himself nor the rest of the Venezuelan government have specified what type of cancer or how critical it was. Noted for his media savvy, Hugo can remain powerful and important for his home country via networking and communicating with his cabinet through Twitter. He even keeps his followers updated on his present medical condition even though he does not specify the details of his treatment. He is also earning the support from fellow leaders by this so called “Twitter Diplomacy”. Leaders across the globe have taken to technology to communicate and enact laws. Members of Parliament in many developed countries are proudly using iPads and other such devices as they represent the democratic themes and urge for advancement.