Aló Presidente

Aló Presidente
Genre Talk show
Presented by Hugo Chávez
Starring Hugo Chávez
Country of origin Venezuela
Original language(s) Spanish
Production
Location(s) Caracas
Release
Original network Venezolana de Televisión
Original release May 23, 1999 – January 29, 2012
External links
Website www.alopresidente.gob.ve

Aló Presidente (English: Hello Mr. President) was a largely unscripted[1] talk show that was hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez. It was broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM. The program did not have a fixed ending time, but usually ended by 5:00 PM, or as the program dynamics permitted. The show promoted the "Bolivarian Revolution" and blamed Venezuelan economic problems on its northern neighbor, the United States.[2] Many Venezuelans tuned in because Chávez was known for unveiling new financial assistance packages every weekend.[3] Beginning in 1999, Chávez spent an average of 40 hours a week on television promoting his "Bolivarian Revolution" policies.[4]

It featured Chávez addressing topics of the day and touring locations where government social welfare programs were active. The first broadcast was made on May 23, 1999 (about three months after Chávez took office) on radio.[5] A total of 378 shows aired.[6]

Format

The format of the show changed over time. At first, it was mainly a call-in show in which Venezuelans expressed grievances and talked to Chávez. Over time, fewer and fewer "regular people" called in and instead Chávez talked about his favorite topics. More artistic performances were added as the years went on.[7]

Government ministers were required to attend the program. They could be questioned by the president about anything, and sometimes policy — even military policy — was made on the show. During the March 2, 2008 airing, Chávez ordered a top general to send ten battalions of troops to the border with Colombia in response to a bombing by Colombian forces inside Ecuador which killed Raúl Reyes, a top member of FARC.[8][9] (The battalions were not deployed;[10] see also 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis.)

Chávez also frequently used the program to discuss (and often denounce) U.S. foreign policy.[10]

South American model

Aló Presidente spawned similar programs by leaders in other Latin American countries, most notably Bolivia, Ecuador[10] and El Salvador, led by Presidents Evo Morales, Rafael Correa and Mauricio Funes respectively.

References

  1. ↑ Carroll, Rory (April 28, 2010). "Hugo Chávez embraces Twitter to fight online 'conspiracy'". The Guardian. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  2. ↑ Lakshmanan, Indira (27 July 2005). "Channeling his energies Venezuelans riveted by president's TV show". The Boston Globe. Retrieved 14 April 2012.
  3. ↑ McCaughan (2005), p. 196.
  4. ↑ Schoen (2009), p. 154.
  5. ↑ Wilson, Peter (September 15, 2006). "Live From Caracas! It's the Hugo Chavez Show, Poems to Taunts". Bloomberg. Retrieved January 9, 2012.
  6. ↑ "Aló Presidente - Transmisiones Anteriores" (in Spanish). Ministry of People's Power for Communication and Information. Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved July 14, 2009.
  7. ↑ Frajman, Eduardo, "Broadcasting Populist Leadership: Hugo Chavez and Alo Presidente", Journal of Latin American Studies, Vol. 43, Issue 3, August 2014, pp. 501-526.
  8. ↑ Anderson, Jon Lee (June 23, 2008). "Fidel's Heir: The influence of Hugo Chávez". The New Yorker. Retrieved March 6, 2013.
  9. ↑ Bikel, Ofra (November 25, 2008). "The Hugo Chavez Show". Frontline. PBS. Archived from the original on 1 December 2008. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
  10. 1 2 3 Grant, Will (May 24, 2009). "Chavez TV show marks anniversary". BBC News. Retrieved January 9, 2012.

See also


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