Venezuelan Vice-President José Vicente Rangel Thursday said "the most important thing (of President Hugo Chávez government' seven years in office) has been learning how to rule, instead of carrying defects and corruption and bound to powerful interests."

In his speech introducing Chávez at the ceremony marking the government seventh anniversary, Rangel quoted a recent survey as saying that the Venezuelan ruler has the support of 77 percent of Venezuelans.

Alleging that the media "have replaced political parties, not to stand for democracy but to stab it," Rangel asserted that the media have not undermined Chávez, but rather they "have wasted their time."

Rangel could not hide his deep admiration for Chávez. He spoke about the demythologizing of the presidential investiture under Chávez' rule. "This is not by chance. This is the result of his extraordinary human condition."