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President Hugo Chávez dondando continue heating fuel for poor families in the United States, a costly decision that indicates that the Venezuelan president wants to keep his word and support his image, despite the fall in oil prices .

The oil company of Venezuela, Citgo Petroleum Corp., based in Texas, announced on Wednesday that the program will continue, two days after his partner, the nonprofit group Citizens Energy, based in Boston, said that Citgo had suspended deliveries of fuel by the economic crisis.


"Chavez noted that it was a mistake," said Larry Birns, director of the Council of Hemispheric Affairs, based in Washington. He added that representatives of Citgo will probably recommend to the President of the savings initially, but that the impact would not be considered until the president saw the reaction.

Then began to understand that cuts to the program with the United States was very harmful in terms of image, "said Birns.


Birns and other analysts have said that Chavez wants to show that it adheres to its commitments, even before the fall of oil prices that reduce the income of the Venezuelan government. The president faces an important vote on February 15 to abolish the limits for re-election and its previous decisions to be taken carefully with regard to its acceptance.

Chavez fuel supplies to 200,000 households in 23 states through a program that has sparked controversy in the United States. Critics say the program is a ploy to undermine the president's administration of President George W. Bush.


The former representative Joseph Kennedy, son of the late Senator Robert F. Kennedy said that the determination to resume the delivery of fuel was taken with the direct involvement of President Chavez. "

When asked whether he had spoken with Chavez, Kennedy replied that "I did what was necessary to continue the operation."


The CEO of Citgo Petroleum, Alejandro Granado, announced in Boston that the company decided to reverse the suspension of the donations to find a way to solve the free fuel.

"This is a great effort," said Granado. "This is a sacrifice."


The announcement was made two days after Kennedy, chairman of Citizens Energy Group, said that Citgo had suspended fuel aid due to low oil prices and the economic crisis in the world.