CARACAS, Venezuela – Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is using Twitter as a tool to govern remotely while he undergoes cancer treatment in Cuba.
In more than 40 messages this week on his “chavezcandanga” account, he has approved money for a Caracas trash collection project, praised plans for a new park and cheered on the national soccer team.
Chavez hasn’t mentioned anything about his chemotherapy but has alluded to his personal battle time and again, as he did in one tweet to a supporter on Tuesday: “We’re moving along here, brother! With God and the Virgin!”
Most of his messages have had the tone of a patriotic father figure connecting with his public. Chavez boasts more than 1.8 million followers, and his messages also regularly pop up on the screen on state television in Venezuela.
A leader who knows well how to choose his sound bites, Chavez has used Twitter to remain in the news at home even as he is out-of-pocket and not making his usual appearances on television.
He did just that Thursday morning in a flurry of messages when he complained about a referee’s call during Venezuela’s soccer match against Paraguay at the Copa America tournament in Argentina. Chavez said he had been
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