Latest update: 15/02/2009 

In the papers
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FRANCE 24 journalists present a daily round-up of the world's papers.
By Katherine SPENCER (text)

VENEZUELA – CHAVEZ BID TO EXTEND PRESIDENTIAL TERMS

 
 
 

The Washington Post (US)

 

 
 
 
The Washington Post takes a closer look at Venezuela President Hugo Chavez’s tactics during his second attempt in 14 months to extend his presidency. Journalist Juan Forero describes Chavez's message to Venezuelans as "vote for me or die”.
 
Chavez paints himself as a revolutionary who has liberated Latin America from imperialism and Venezuela from exploitation.

But the Washington Post points out that the past is rather less romantic and that, as recently as the late '70s, Venezuela was considered a model in the region.

What Chavez has managed to do however, they say, is put the poor into the public’s consciousness, giving them a voice and cutting poverty levels by half.
 
Chavez justifies his decision to try to hang on to power by arguing it’s what the people want.

 

 

Analitica (Venezuela)
 

 
 

Venezuelan daily Analitica is urging it’s readers to vote NO. The editorial says the referendum is a joke and that it is time to put the brakes on President Hugo Chavez's boundless political ambitions.

 
 
 
El Pais (Spain)
 
Meanwhile Spanish daily El Pais grumbles that the main problem with the referendum is that it’s impossible to get a beer in the capital this weekend.
 
That’s because alcohol is banned during the electoral period to ensure that the revolutionary mood on the streets doesn’t erupt into drunken brawling.
 
 
 
DOM TOM UNREST
 
 
 
Le Journal du Dimanche (France)
 
 

The French press is again dominated by the story of unrest in its overseas territories or DOM TOMs. Le Journal du Dimanche has an explosive interview with Guyana MP Christiane Taubira who says the DOM TOMs are the forgotten lands of the French republic.

She insists the problem isn’t a racial one but then goes on to talk about social apartheid in Guadeloupe, Martinique and Guyana, where descendants of white colonialists represent a tiny percent of the population but control most of the wealth.
 
 
MERCEDES AND BMW JOIN FORCES AGAINST THE CRISIS
 
 
 
Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung (Germany)
 
 
 

Moving onto Germany now where the unthinkable has happened…According to a scoop in the German buisness newspaper Le Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Mercedes and BMW are to join forces to try and combat the crisis.

The two rival car giants have signed several co-operation deals which will see them share sub-contractors for windows, air conditioning systems and even engines.
 
They are hoping the move will save them hundreds of millions of euros at a time when sales of large cars with high fuel consumption are plummeting.

 

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