Political Restrictions in Venezuela
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Under the rule of President Hugo Chávez, Venezuela's population has faced ongoing political repression and rights abuses. Chávez has taken extreme measures to prevent and tamp-down any forms of dissent against his government. He has successfully concentrated all political power, effectively creating a vacuum of control that extends to the courts and media. This power consolidation has weakened the country's democratic system, particularly in terms of checks and balances.Human rights activists and labor activists continually face harassment, while violating the right to freedom of speech, adequate prison conditions, fair legal processes, and freedom from extrajudicial killings by paramilitary and security forces.