Aló Presidente

Aló Presidente
Aló Presidente logo

Aló Presidente (English: Hello President) is a largely unscripted[1] talk show hosted by Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez which is broadcast on Venezuelan state television and radio stations every Sunday at 11:00 AM. The program does not have a fixed ending time, but usually ends by 5:00 PM, or as the program dynamics permit.

It features Chávez addressing topics of the day and touring locations where government social welfare programs are active. The first broadcast was made on May 23, 1999 (about three months after Chávez took office) on radio.[2] Since then, over 330 shows have aired.[3]

Contents

Format

Government ministers are required to attend the program. They may be questioned by the president about anything, and sometimes policy — even military policy — is 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.[4] (The battalions were not deployed;[5] see also 2008 Andean diplomatic crisis.)

Chávez has also in the past frequently used the program to discuss US foreign policy.[5]

South American model

Aló Presidente has spawned similar programs by leaders in other South American countries, most notably Bolivia and Ecuador, led by Presidents Evo Morales and Rafael Correa respectively.[5]


References

External links