More tragi-comedy from Chavez: Orders supporters to give up extra possessions

Chavez orders supporters to give up extra possessions

Story Highlights

• Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is forming United Socialist Party of Venezuela
• Chavez wants supporters to give away extra possessions like fridges, trucks
• Millions of followers have signed up to be members of the party, officials say
• Chavez calls capitalism an evil; considers Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor

CARACAS, Venezuela (Reuters) -- Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez told his supporters to give away possessions they do not need such as an extra refrigerator because he only wants true socialists to be members of a new single party he is forming.

"Whoever has a fridge they do not need, put it out in the village square. Whoever has a truck, a fan or a cooker they do not need, give something away. Let's not be selfish. I demand you do it," Chavez said at a milk producing cooperative, in remarks released on Monday.

Chavez, who calls capitalism an evil, said he would donate $250,000 of his own money and added, "Let's see who follows the example."

The anti-U.S. president who calls Cuban leader Fidel Castro his mentor denies he is turning the OPEC nation of avid consumers into another communist state as his critics say.

But since coming to power in 1999, Chavez has proposed increasingly radical steps to drive Venezuela toward a socialist state and, after a landslide re-election late last year, he declared himself for the first time a communist.

Chavez, who rules by decree, has focused his political ambitions this year on forming a single party from the hodgepodge of affiliations that have traditionally supported him in what he says is his crusade against U.S. imperialism.

Officials say millions of followers have signed up to be members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela that Chavez plans to use as a platform to govern the country for decades.

"If I were to end up with only five people signing up out of those 5 million, I'd be happier," Chavez said on Sunday in remarks that were distributed on Monday by the government and published in the local media.

"I only want to be accompanied by true socialists," he said.

Chavez's critics complain his constant railing against U.S.-promoted consumerism contrasts with the behavior of senior government officials who can can be seen dining out at fancy restaurants or riding around in expensive cars.

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