For Chávez, Firm Rule and Favors / Para Chávez, gobierno duro y regalos

This country's populist president, Hugo Chávez, beloved by his followers, has achieved a cultlike status by mixing his considerable charisma with a free-spending policy of funneling billions into social programs. But that hasn't stopped his oil-rich government from using every tool at its disposal to ensure that voters flock to its side in Sunday's presidential election ( full information)/ Presidente populista de este país, Hugo Chávez, querido por sus seguidores, ha alcanzado un estado delculto mezclando su carisma considerable con una política incontrolada de gasto que concentra miles de millones en programas sociales. Pero eso no ha parado su gobierno petrolero de usar cada herramienta a su disposición para asegurarse de que los votantes se sumen a su lado en la elección presidencial de domingo