Chavez Rival Questions If Gov't Really Socialist The Venezuelan opposition's candidate in next month's presidential election is ridiculing President Hugo Chavez for claiming to pursue socialist policies that care for the poor. Henrique Capriles says that nearly 14 years under the fiercely anti-capitalist Chavez have resulted in Venezuela having one of the world's highest murder rates, violence-plagued prisons and crumbling hospitals. Opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles greets supporters before announcing his government program for the first 100 days in office at an event in Caracas, Venezuela, Monday, Sept. Capriles is running against President Hugo Chavez in the country's Oct. 7 election. (AP Photo/Fernando Llano) Close The opposition leader says, in his words, "if they're socialists, I'm Marxist-Leninist." Capriles accuses Chavez of wasting Venezuela's oil wealth through fuel supply deals with allied nations that involve long-term, low-interest financing. Chavez disputes that characterization. Capriles made the remarks Monday during a speech in which he laid out his plans if he wins the Oct. 7 vote. Among those pledges, Capriles says he would work to reduce inflation and raise the minimum wage.