February 14, 2005
Chávez is seventh among 50 world leaders

(ABN) - "President of the Bolívarian Republic of Venezuela, Hugo Chávez Frías, was seventh on a list of most influential leaders of 2004. This list was issued by the Eurasia Group , which is based in Europe and is dedicated to economical investment and analysis.

On a report called 'Global Leadership 50" published by the end of January by this group, they identified 50 political, religious and business leaders, as well as social activists from all around the world, whose actions and achievements "had a deep impact on local, national and international politics during 2004'.

According to Eurasia this list includes people who 'exceeded public expectations' with significant political effect by showing non-conventional leadership; proving good will by sacrificing self benefit in the name of a higher political goal; supporting or executing innovative strategies to solve political problems; or taking action to reform status quo, generating relevant changes for their community or the world.

In their verdict, Eurasia said 'President Chávez came out triumphant from a referendum in August by launching a campaign that included large investment in social programmes and voters registration, without incurring in fraud or intimidation. Chávez's victory, together with his efforts to guarantee investments in the energy sector, contributed to regain trust from investments and markets'.

After assessing these characteristics, President Chávez was the seventh leader of the year 2004, after Sonia Gandhi, President of the National Congress Party of India, on top of the list, Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Prime Minister of Turkey, Viktor Yuschenko, elected President of Ukrane, Pervez Musharraf, President of Pakistan, Ariel Sharon, Prime Minister of Israel and Hu Jintao, President of China.

President of the United States, George W. Bush was in 11th place, Bill Gates, President of Microsoft in 17th place, while former actor and governor of California Arnold Schwartzenegger was in 30 th place. Among Latin American leaders, President Lula Da Silva came in 10 th place, Colombian President Alvaro Uribe was placed in 37 th place, Juan Carlos Blumberg, businessman and activist from Argentina in 44 th , Roberto Lavagna, Argentinean Minister of Economy was in 46 th place, and President of Bolivia, Carlos Mesa, in 49 th place, according to the report by Eurasia Group.

This list was made by a group of experts, academics and politicians like Ian Bremmer, President of Eurasia Group; Cesar Gaviria, former President of Colombia and former Secretary General of the Organisation of American States; Adel Jubeir".