Chávez: Venezuelan Defense Minister "is accused by gangsters"

President Hugo Chávez Venezuela defended his new Defense Minister General-in-Chief (Army) Henry Rangel Silva during the 377th edition of Hello President, his weekly radio and TV show, at the presidential palace of Miraflores, the official seat of the executive office in Venezuela.

"How dare they claim that Henry Rangel Silva is a gangster? Those who accuse him are the real gangsters!" Chávez said. The Venezuelan Head of State expressed his "personal, spiritual and political" support to Rangel Silva, who has been criticized for his alleged links with the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and with alleged drug lord Walid Makled.

Chávez added that he will present "the broad lines of the second socialist plan 2013-2019" in February. "I will keep going in the same direction" with more efficiency and competence, he added.

Chávez also acknowledged that his ministers have disregarded the governors. "Sometimes we do not talk with governors and mayors. We should start addressing these mistakes," he said.