Critics of Venezuelan president attack move to reward a supporter with state property as 'intolerable'

This article is more than 8 years old

This article is more than 8 years old

A young woman in Venezuela has been rewarded with a new home by President Hugo Chávez for becoming his 3-millionth follower on Twitter.

Natalia Valdivieso, who is said by government officials to be 19, received her home on Thursday and posted several celebratory tweets, calling Chávez "the best president" and gushing that "I woke up knowing that this is the happiest day of my life!"

She said about 200 families were receiving public housing in her area, on Margarita Island in the north of Venezuela.

Chávez had congratulated Valdivieso in a message on Monday, saying she was his 3-millionth follower. His regional campaign manager, Carlos Mata Figueroa, then said she was to receive the home.

Chávez's government has been building new public housing complexes ahead of the presidential elections on 7 October.

The giveaway sparked criticism from some, and jokes.

One government critic, Gustavo Coronel, wrote on his blog that it was "intolerable" for Chávez to have rewarded someone in such a way simply for being a supporter. He noted the home was built with government money, not Chávez's money, and asked how the president dared to dole property out on the basis of political support.

"It's about shamelessly giving charity to those who follow him," Coronel wrote.

The satirical website El Chigüire Bipolar produced a mock news article saying that Chávez's 2,999,999 other Twitter followers were disappointed. "Millions of the president's followers complained at having received nothing," it said.