Rise up:

Venezuela’s president, Hugo Chávez, is in political trouble. He is clearly hoping that a new expropriation spree will fire up his supporters, at least long enough to keep his allies from suffering heavy defeats in November’s state and municipal elections.

In recent weeks, he ordered the nationalisation of the foreign-owned cement industry and the country’s biggest steel company. Last year, Chávez forced foreign oil companies to give up control of oil fields in eastern Venezuela, and he nationalised the country’s largest telecommunications and the electricity company serving the capital, Caracas. These new expropriations were an attempt to grab control of all of Venzuela’s economic and political life while providing more opportunities for patronage and corruption.

Venezuela’s voters have already shown that they can see through such manipulations. Chávez lost last year’s referendum because students, business leaders, members of the usually ineffectual opposition were willing to work together. They have an opportunity to deal another blow for democracy in this November’s elections. The majority of Venezuela’s governors and mayors are Chávez supporters. Defeating them at the polls would send a clear message that Venezuelans are fed up with Chávez’s incompetent and authoritarian ways. — The New York Times