Mr Chavez wrote to Natalia: ‘You have become follower number three million! I thank you and congratulations!’
4:01pm UK, Saturday June 02, 2012
A 19-year-old Venezuelan woman was given a new home on a Caribbean island after becoming President Hugo Chavez’s three millionth follower on Twitter.
Natalia Valdivieso tweeted thank-you messages via her own account after she was given the keys to her new home on the island of Margarita.
She proclaimed Mr Chavez was “the best president” and gushed: “I woke up knowing that is the happiest day of my life!”
Hugo Chavez (@chavezcandanga) gave house as a gift to 19 year old @nataliaval7 for being his 3 millionth follower on #twitter !!!!!
Nadir Daman Khan @NadirDaman @NadirDaman Thanks friend, my beloved president saw my need and helped me, 2500 houses were delivered the same day they gave me mine!
@nataliaval7 @nataliaval7 The Venezuelan government plans to deliver thousands of homes to meet a shortfall of three million in the country.
But some newspapers labelled the new-home prize a stunt and claimed it was an attempt to distract attention from problems in the country ahead of elections in October.
The satirical website, El Chiguire Bipolar, poked fun at the handout with a mock news article saying that Mr Chavez’s 2,999,999 other Twitter followers were disappointed.
“Millions of the president’s followers complained at having received nothing,” it said.
Mr Chavez, who is suffering from cancer, could attempt to win a fourth term as president later this year.
He has been receiving medical treatment in Cuba but has not divulged the exact nature of the cancer
SKY