It was a cruel, bloody and terrifying era. Rebels slaughtered villagers in the mountains and hung dogs from power lines, their carcasses daubed with Maoist slogans. The state responded with a Machiavellian mix of assassination, bribery and intrigue that brought down the rebel leader but also triggered the fall of the president.

Another agreeable lunch ended at the Caracas Country Club with a bottle of Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon, the chef’s famous flan and a round of espressos. From their table in the sun-kissed courtyard the three businessmen could hear only the fountain’s gurgle, the murmur of other diners, the clink of glasses and the swish of waiters.

Free train rides, free rock concerts, free baseball games, December bonuses in November: Christmas has come early to Venezuela. Or, to put it another way, an election is due. The government is striving for a feelgood atmosphere by unleashing a torrent of cash and promising more to come in the run-up to a poll in which President Hugo Chávez is seeking another term.

It could be the cover of a romantic ballad album, a man in a blue shirt with a soft gaze and a heartfelt paean that begins: ”Always, I did everything for love.” Meet Hugo Chávez, Venezuelan President, socialist revolutionary, globetrotting firebrand, Washington nemesis and now, in election campaign mode, a lover.

Venezuela’s campaign for a seat on the UN Security Council is reaching a climax in the face of fierce resistance from the Bush administration. Hugo Chávez has invested billions of dollars and a year of globetrotting in cementing his position as a global player.