Schools turned pupils away, civil servants stayed home and banks shut their doors after President Hugo Chávez, taking Venezuela by surprise, declared Monday a national holiday. He announced the holiday on Sunday to commemorate his rise to power 10 years ago and the start of his Bolivarian Revolution. “Be alert, for the sword of Bolívar strides through Latin America,” he said at a ceremony on Monday, at the tomb of the liberation hero Simón Bolívar.
Businesses and schools were closed after they scrambled on Sunday to tell their employees and students to stay at home. Mr. Chavez’s decree, and threats to fine companies failing to comply, showed the sometimes arbitrary leadership of Mr. Chavez as well as his political astuteness to understand the move would be popular with Venezuelan workers.
wow. nuff said.
