The Venezuelan government has shut down all McDonald’s across the nation for a period of 48 hours, citing tax irregularities:

The head of the country’s tax agency, Jose David Cabello, said the chain had inconsistencies in its accounts.

The 115 branches in Venezuela were closed from Thursday to Saturday.

This has nothing to do with the fact that Hugo Chavez much prefers Whoppers. You know, like the one about Farc being “not terrorists.” That one went deliciously with BBQ sauce. More about the closings:

Of the 132 McDonald’s restaurants in Venezuela, 118 were closed, including all 80 of the outlets run by Caracas-based franchisee Alimentos Arcos Dorados de Venezuela CA, spokesman Rolando Chavez told The Associated Press on Friday.

Arcos Dorados — “golden arches” in Spanish — said it has obeyed Venezuelan laws and regulations and is abiding by the sanctions. It said the order stemmed from “formal issues affecting purchasing and sales records.”

Hugo Chavez’s government also closed McDonald’s in the country three years ago, as well as various American (Coca Cola and PepsiCo among them) — and national — companies. Analyst Pedo Palma of Venezuelan economic consulting form MetroEconimica says the closings don’t necessarily imply a snub at U.S. companies, noting closures of Venezuelan companies as well - often for very minor inconsistencies in record-keeping.

Also, trade between Venezuela and the U.S. has been growing - culminating in about $50 billion last year alone, most of that in sales of Venezuelan oil.

So, strike against the U.S? Or a case of Hugo Chavez wanting a late-night fry binge undisturbed?

Venezuela shuts down McDonald’s [BBC]
Venezuela tax agency closes McDonald’s temporarily [AP]