THE debate is up and running, so I am writing to reply to Ian Cummings (ViewPoints, October 19) and answer his three points he made about Venezuela.

Yes, Chavez did receive a lower percentage, but why not be truthful and state that his share of the vote increased by 700,000, in what was a bigger turnout of 80 per cent?

The 54 per cent win would be regarded as a landslide in most elections – Cameron or Miliband could only ever dream of such numbers.

Chavez has three consecutive re-elections as president with various other winning elections regards the constitution, etc.

His right-wing millionaire opponent, Capriles – a Venezuelan Tory then – is backed by the US with millions of dollars, which included a deliberately false opinion poll from ABC that gave that rival the win.

Another typical right-wing trick that failed.

Capriles lost all but two of the 24 states, including his own, Miranda.

And to talk of independent commentators, were they pro-Capriles, pro-US too? You bet! Try US journalist Mark Weisbrot for independence.

His third point regarding democracy in a left-wing country seems a backward statement. What is Chavez, a socialist? Well, he himself says so and the grubby FOX News agrees.

My original letter compared Venezuela and our democracy.

I still agree with Mr Cummings regards extremes and Chavez, he accepts, was elected in a democracy. Chavez is also a proponent of something I share – socialism – which I’m afraid, whether you like it or not, is left-wing. A ringing endorsement for socialism, I’d say.

TIM W SIRET Millmoor Crescent, Eynsham