David Friedberg

What were you seeing in the country that enabled Chavez to come to power?

What were you seeing in the country that enabled Chavez to come to power?

And what did he promise the people?

And what did he promise the people?

And this was 1999 that he came to power.

And this was 1999 that he came to power.

And at the time, I think when he took office, oil was at around $14 per barrel.

And at the time, I think when he took office, oil was at around $14 per barrel.

And a few years later, oil spiked up to even less.

And a few years later, oil spiked up to even less.

Just to contextualize all of this.

Just to contextualize all of this.

Prior to his coming to power, the oil companies had been nationalized.

Prior to his coming to power, the oil companies had been nationalized.

So to your point, the government was really the economy.

So to your point, the government was really the economy.

And he promised this sort of equality and redistribution of value for all of the people

And he promised this sort of equality and redistribution of value for all of the people

of Venezuela.

of Venezuela.