She became Mayor of Chacao and Rafael Caledera ( he formerly ran the country from 1969 to 1974) won the Presidential race. He is now 79 and as the economic crisis worsens his critics are accusing him of nepotism. They say he only takes advice from his closest family members. His son-in-law Ruben Rojas Perez is the head of the Presidential Guard, the key adviser on military affairs. Other relatives hold pivotal posts in an Administration that has two years more to run. ‘There is a general sense that the President is isolated from the rest of the country,' said Jorge Olavarr a columnist with El Nacional adding:' What's escalating the criticism is not just the fact that there is nepotism but that the President's relatives are incompetent.' Confidence in Caldera is dropping as fast as inflation, unemployment and the crime rate are rising. The President's authoritarian tics are on display whenever he is criticised but he can no longer depend on the support of a largely supine Press as the public become more and more disgruntled. Since the recent elections of mayors and governors there have been constant rumours of a plot against him by severely disenchanted former and present military leaders. Many here tell you over endless cups of thick coffee that Caldera may be tempted to rule the old-fashioned way and bring in strong-arm tactics to silence his critics. Others suggest that his age and incompetency may provoke a referendum -- and the need for someone else to step in and lead the nation. There is a growing movement to bring the national polls forward to this year and despite Caldera's reluctance it could happen if the public pressure continues. Whether this could be Irene Saez's Presidential moment or at least the first step towards high national office depends on how brutal is the effect -- and final outcome -- of the country's present erratic economic policies. There is no question she feels she is ready and confident of one thing:' The people have shown they want an alternative. They know I can bring change. The people support me.' And change she has brought to Chacao. Going out to dinner in cosmopolitan Caracas was once fun.Now, it's an act of courage. ‘I go very quickly at night,' said newspaper publisher Miguel Enrique Otero. ‘I go through all the red lights. If I go to a restaurant I go to Chacao.' Buying a car in Caracas was once an annual event. When political scientist Andres Serbin asked his insurance agent about a Jeep he was told that of the 14 Land Cruisers the agent had recently insured, twelve were stolen by armed robbers. ‘I think I'd rather go by taxi,' said Serbin. There are daylight shootouts and robberies. Between 20 and 30 people suffer violent deaths every weekend in Caracas . Last month (FEB) a 14-year-old shot and killed a 15-year-old for his Nike sneakers. More than 1,000 people were arrested during a Government ‘sweep' of the Caracas slums. In the city's Las Palmas neighbourhood you cannot drive through.Residents have blocked off streets with concrete-filled drums after 220 out of 280 families were robbed. But in Chacao, what they call Irenelandia (Irene-land), there are shopping malls and parks and expensive single-family homes in contrast to the crowded high rises and ramshackled concrete homes in the other districts. David Tatazopoulus drives carefully through the district:' I live here and it is like being in another country. It is a safe haven. She has had made change -- everything from the crime rate to the traffic to the quality of life. The squares are tidy.There are aerobics classes for the elderly, parks for the kids. Most importantly, you feel safe.'
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