Hugo, Evo and Fidel, The Three Twittering Amigos In early February 2010 Venezuelan populist President Hugo Chavez announced that Twitter was a threat to the state and characterized it as “a tool of terror.” Following Mexico’s footsteps to bring “Los Twitteros” under control, he asked the country’s National Assembly to begin drafting legislation to regulate the Internet. However, on April 27, in a remarkable about-face, using the handle “@chavezcandanga,” President Chavez broadcasted his first tweet announcing his imminent departure for a visit to Brazil. He later met with president Evo Morales in Bolivia, where he invited both him and Fidel Castro of Cuba to join him on Twitter. President Chavez’s chosen Twitter handle makes reference to a Spanish expression that formally translates as “the devil” but in the context used, is more like to convey the meaning of a rascal or strong-willed, combative individual. In only two days, he succeeded in attracting more than 10,000 followers. As of May 3, after only nine tweets, he was rapidly closing on the 200,000 mark.