Chavez foe alleges giveways
Leading in polls, Venezuela leader scoffs at criticism
CARACAS -- A candidate challenging Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez for the presidency said his top campaign issue will be what he calls a massive waste of billions of dollars through generous oil deals for friendly countries.
Chavez, leading strongly in the polls, denied the accusations by candidate Julio Borges on Tuesday night, calling his challenger a ''frijolito" -- or ''small fry" -- and expressing confidence in an easy reelection victory in December.
Borges said earlier Tuesday that his party, Justice First, calculates Chavez's government has committed more than $16 billion to unprofitable international oil deals or humanitarian donations.
''We aren't giving gifts to anyone," Chavez said in a speech. He said the oil is sold at market prices, though with special financing arrangements.
Borges's website alleges that Chavez has given away more than $5 billion to Cuba, ranging from an electricity project to oil sales exchanged partially for the services of thousands of Cuban doctors.
Borges lists $4.5 billion for Brazil, including plans for an oil refinery. He includes more than $200 million for the United States, including sales of discounted home heating oil to low-income Americans in the Northeast.
''They're all programs in which Venezuela gives money or gasoline or oil and receives nothing proportional in exchange," Borges said, adding that he will make the issue his main theme in the campaign.
Chavez, who celebrates his seventh year in office today, said many of the oil deals merely allow long-term, low-cost financing for part of the bill. Some countries also can pay partly in goods or services, such as bananas, beans or the work of some 20,000 Cuban doctors now treating Venezuela's poor without charge.
''How much do 20,000 doctors cost? Add it up," Chavez urged his listeners. ''Look how foolish these people from the opposition are."
Venezuela last year signed the ''Petrocaribe" agreement with 13 Caribbean countries, allowing them to pay 60 percent of their bill up front and pay off the rest as a 25-year loan, at 1 percent interest.
