This week Hugo Chávez announced another expropriation, as he approved funds to take over Sidetur, a steel products company. As the presidential campaign heats up and Chávez continues his cancer battle, speculation on Chávez’s possible successor continues; Chávez has refused to debate his opponent, Henrique Capriles, instead lobbing insults at the opposition candidate; new polls give Chávez a lead over Capriles, but high numbers of undecided voters have the opposition hopeful that they can swing the vote over the next four months. Meanwhile, officials admit that Venezuela has one of the highest murder rates in the world; a former defense minister accuses Chávez of a “psychological war” for the recent broadcast of a military meeting; the value of Venezuela’s oil exports continue to fall; and Moody’s warns investors about the increasing risk of investing in the country.

Venezuela Approves Sidetur Expropriation Funds, Chavez Says, Bloomberg Businessweek

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez approved funds to finalize the expropriation of Siderurgica del Turbio SA, a steel products company known as Sidetur.

Venezuelans wonder who would replace Chavez, Washington Post

As President Hugo Chavez battles a cancer that has sidelined him for much of the past year, a group of loyal associates has stepped into the spotlight, sparking speculation across a polarized political landscape over who could replace the fiery leader should his condition force him from office With Chavez running for reelection in October, public talk of relinquishing power is unthinkable in his inner sanctum, where the mantra is “with Chavez everything, without Chavez nothing.”

Venezuela’s Chavez rejects poll debate, irking rival, Reuters

Venezuela’s President Hugo Chavez ruled out on Monday holding a pre-election debate with opponent Henrique Capriles, saying he would be “ashamed” to measure himself against such a “non-entity.”

Despite polls, Venezuela opposition sees Chavez upset, Chicago Tribune

Venezuela’s opposition shrugged off opinion polls showing President Hugo Chavez in the lead before October’s election and said on Wednesday its candidate Henrique Capriles would win thanks to a tireless “house-by-house” campaign.

Chavez predicts big win in Venezuela election, Chicago Tribune

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez forecast he would win October’s election with more than 60 percent of the vote after a new poll showed on Tuesday he held a large lead over his opposition rival.

Launching anti-crime plan, Venezuelan official says country had about 14,000 homicides in 2011, The Washington Post

Venezuela’s top security official said Thursday that more than 14,000 people were slain in the country last year and that a new anti-crime plan aims to address the problem.

Ex Defense Minister: The ring of democracy is not the rifle but vote El Universal

Former Minister of Defense Raúl Salazar labeled as “psychological war” a meeting on obligatory simultaneous TV and radio broadcast between Venezuela’s President Hugo Chávez and the high military command.

Venezuela Oil Basket Drops To Lowest Price In 16 Months, The Wall Street Journal

The price of Venezuela’s basket of crude oil and refined products continued falling in the week ending Friday, losing $1.99 to settle at $92.06 per barrel, its lowest level in nearly 16 months.

Moody’s warns against increasing vulnerability of Venezuela, El Universal

Moody’s, one of the major credit risk and risk analysis firms in the world, has kept “stable” the forecast of the Venezuelan debt, currently at “B2,” a “speculative” step under the agency method.