Who is afraid of Hugo Chávez? At present, most western governments see the Venezuelan president as an irritant and even a potential menace to international security. But as Mr Chávez proceeds on a European "roadshow" with a stop in London, it is worth asking why Europe should bother about him. Of course, unpredictable government in a major oil exporting country affects the world. But the immediate European interest is that Mr Chávez, his apparent disciple Evo Morales, newly elected Bolivian president, and other Latin American leaders who may follow, allow Europe to do what it does best: namely to stand up constructively for liberal democracy.

Mr Chávez's image thrives on anti-global and anti-US invective. He supports Fidel Castro, the Cuban president, by selling him oil cheaply and taking in 20,000 of Cuba's underemployed medics. He supports the anti-globalisation movement and gave political if not material support to Bolivian protests that paved the way for Mr Morales' December election victory. He was invited to London by Ken Livingstone, London's maverick mayor, who says Britain could learn about democracy and social policy from Mr Chávez, and no doubt delights in playing host to the man who has called Tony Blair, the prime minister, "Hitler's friend".