Plunging oil prices threaten Chavez revolution as vote looms
The drive by Venezuela's autocratic president, Hugo Chavez, to export his brand of socialism across Latin America and remain in power indefinitely is being jeopardised by tumbling oil prices.
Hugo Chavez regional influence built on oil largesse The firebrand populist has used the proceeds of Venezuela's vast oil reserves to prop up left-wing governments and politicians across the region, fomenting anti-Americanism and expanding his personal influence.
Fidel Castro in Cuba, Bolivian leader Evo Morales and Daniel Ortega, the Sandinista revolutionary who returned to power in Nicaragua in 2006, have all benefited from Mr Chavez's oil-fuelled largesse.
But after 10 years in power, Mr Chavez is now fighting an increasingly desperate campaign to win Sunday's referendum on changing the constitution to scrap term limits. His proposal would allow him to stay in office indefinitely if he keeps winning elections run after his current final term expires in 2013.
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