Analysis: Opposition

Henrique Capriles: The Prefabricated Leader

ewan — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:05:19 +0000

Ronald Muñoz – Ciudad CCS

This recent opinion article in Venezuelan daily Ciudad CCS examines the private media’s treatment of opposition leader Henrique Capriles, which the author says is “unprecedented in the history of our country”.

One Month since 14 April, Nicolas has Advanced

ewan — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:05:11 +0000

Nicmer Evans - Rebelión

Venezuelan political commentator Nicmer Evans analyses the first month of Nicolas Maduro’s presidency, arguing that despite the opposition challenge to his legitimacy Maduro is setting the country’s political agenda.

We’ve Definitely Arrived at the Inevitable

chris — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Roland Denis - Aporrea

One prominent Venezuelan intellectual and activist’s perspective on the current political situation and tasks ahead, Denis argues that there is a larger opening now for the opposition to take power, and that the grassroots are talking of regrouping, and are at a “critical crossroads”.

Rightwing Covering up Coup Plan with So-Called Electoral Struggle, Argues Opposition Defector

tamara — Tue, 07 May 2013 23:37:51 +0000

AVN

Speaking moments before last Tuesday’s brawl in Venezuela’s National Assembly, opposition legislator Maria Corina Machados’s own deputy representative, Ricardo Sánchez, warned of the right-wing’s ‘hidden agenda’.

Does Capriles Have a Plausible Claim, or Is He “Venezuela’s Sore Loser”?

ryan — Mon, 06 May 2013 21:59:01 +0000

Dan Beeton- CEPR

Despite the lack of evidence of fraud, or any plausible explanation for how the election could have been stolen in spite of the integrity of the Venezuelan electoral system, press reports and commentary continue to treat Capriles’ claims seriously.

Honor Venezuela's Election; Maduro Won Fair and Square

tamara — Tue, 30 Apr 2013 20:02:57 +0000

Daniel Kovalik - Post Gazette

I just returned from Venezuela where I was one of 170 international election observers from around the world, including India, Brazil, Great Britain, Argentina, South Korea and France.

Canadian Organizations Condemn Post-Election Violence in Venezuela

chris — Mon, 29 Apr 2013 02:22:24 +0000

Common Frontiers

We condemn the opposition-initiated violence against innocent supporters of President Nicolas Maduro as an attempt to destabilize Venezuela. In line with UNASUR, we call on the opposition to respect the will of the people and to recognize the results of the CNE.

Venezuela: Ups and Downs of an Election Observer

chris — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 14:34:52 +0000

Julia Buxton - Latin American Bureau

Julia Buxton has been an observer at elections in Venezuela for nearly twenty years. In April 2013 this was the first election without Hugo Chávez since 1999. This is her report.

US Playing Politics Over Venezuelan Elections

chris — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 21:41:58 +0000

Lee Brown - Huffington Post

Nicolas Maduro's victory in the Venezuelan presidential election was narrower than anticipated. Nonetheless, it was clear enough. Yet the US government now seems to be playing politics with the outcome, emboldening Venezuela's opposition coalition by refusing to accept the results and trying to discredit Maduro's mandate.

Claims of Fraud in Venezuela: The Fake Evidence of Henrique Capriles

chris — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 00:26:23 +0000

Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Opposition candidate Henrique Capriles has refused to acknowledge the results of the election, claiming the government committed fraud. In what follows, I will list all of the alleged evidence of fraud cited by Capriles, and explain why every single example is either demonstrably false, or extremely implausible.

Maduro’s Venezuela Remains an Inconvenient Example of Democracy

chris — Thu, 18 Apr 2013 22:27:42 +0000

Kevin Edmonds - NACLA

While it is understandable that the United States is not pleased with the outcome of the election in Venezuela given their economic interests, it does not give them the right to undermine the political process of a sovereign country.

Understanding the Venezuelan Presidential Election Outcome

tamara — Tue, 16 Apr 2013 03:42:45 +0000

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Why was the presidential election result so close, and why did some government supporters switch to supporting Capriles? As the opposition causes violence around the country, calling "fraud", what was it that worked with Capriles' campaign, and that didn't with Maduro's?

Venezuelan Election: Who will Win the Trust of the People?

tamara — Sat, 13 Apr 2013 15:32:04 +0000

Jody McIntyre - New Internationalist

Things are heating up in the centre of Caracas. The heat is sweltering and Venezuela’s presidential elections are fast approaching on 14 April. It is hard to find a quiet moment in between the seemingly endless ‘red points’ which hand out posters and information in support of Nicolás Maduro’s election campaign.

Opposition Runs Tired Campaign

ryan — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 22:32:00 +0000

Correo del Orinoco International

In the context of another presidential election set for this Sunday, members of the Venezuelan opposition have again used confusing campaign tactics in their bid to retake the government.

International Corporate Media Campaigns for Venezuela’s Opposition Candidate Capriles

tamara — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 02:11:05 +0000

Tamara Pearson – Venezuelanalysis.com

With just a few days to go till Venezuela votes for a new president, the mainstream media has stepped up its campaign in support of opposition candidate Henrique Capriles.

Venezuela’s Snap Presidential Election: A Campaign without Issues?

ewan — Tue, 09 Apr 2013 04:24:34 +0000

Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Hugo Chavez’s death has catapulted both sides of Venezuela’s political divide into a snap election that neither wanted.

Presidential Candidate Henrique Capriles: Leading to Nowhere

chris — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 17:33:04 +0000

Correo Del Orinoco International

Having lost to Chavez by over a million votes, Capriles is now running on a campaign aimed at dividing pro-Chavez forces and discrediting the country’s democratic institutions, something his political career depends on.

The 14 April Venezuelan Presidential Election Campaign: Start of a New Era

tamara — Thu, 28 Mar 2013 01:09:09 +0000

Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Although the results of the presidential elections in a few weeks are quite predictable, we are going through a fragile, vulnerable period, with a future that is less predictable. These elections, because of their place in history- the start of the era of the Bolivarian revolution without Chavez – have some special characteristics and factors.

Exposing the Venezuelan Right-Wing’s Attempts to Discredit April’s Presidential Election

ewan — Mon, 25 Mar 2013 21:50:17 +0000

Lee Brown - VSC UK

With less than one month to go until Venezuela’s Presidential election on 14 April, following the sad death of Hugo Chávez, prominent figures in Washington and in the Venezuelan right-wing coalition appear to have begun a campaign to discredit the election process and, with it, the near certain victory of Nicolas Maduro.

Capriles is Aware of the Ambush by the Opposition against Him

ewan — Fri, 22 Mar 2013 16:35:52 +0000

Jiuvant Huerfano – Noticias 24

In this short analysis of the two political forces facing off in the upcoming presidential election, Jiuvant Huerfano for Venezuelan news website Noticias 24 argues that opposition candidate Henrique Capriles is aware of the internal forces who want to topple him as the opposition’s leader.

Ricardo Haussmann – A Reliable Commentator for the Guardian on Venezuela?

ewan — Mon, 04 Mar 2013 17:18:56 +0000

Dr. Francisco Dominguez -Venezuela Solidarity Campaign UK

Last Monday the Guardian Comment is Free website carried a piece by Ricardo Haussmann on Venezuela entitled The legacy of Hugo Chávez: Low growth, high inflation, intimidation. But is Haussmann a reliable commentator for the Guardian on Venezuela?

Members of Venezuelan Right Feel Excluded from Opposition

ryan — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 15:36:01 +0000

Correo del Orinoco International

Sidelined members of the Venezuelan opposition fiercely criticized their so-called Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) this week after it began backroom discussions to select a presidential candidate in case President Chavez decides he is unable to carry out his full 2013-2019 term.

The Guardian vs. the Conventional Wisdom on Venezuela

chris — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 17:53:41 +0000

Alex Main - CEPR

Just as it appeared that the current conventional wisdom on Venezuela had spread and hardened irreversibly throughout the major media, on Monday the UK daily The Guardian published an editorial entitled “Venezuela, defying predictions – again.” The piece deftly takes on a few commonly held views found in much of the media coverage of Venezuela.

Disinformation Still Clouds the US Debate on Chávez's Legacy in Venezuela

chris — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 17:19:02 +0000

Mark Weisbrot

Despite 14 years of catastrophist predictions for Venezuela, oil wealth has been successfully turned to social purposes.

Venezuela: the Campaign of the Opposition is Provoking a Revolutionary Backlash

tamara — Thu, 10 Jan 2013 02:10:46 +0000

Jorge Martín - In Defence of Marxism

Taking advantage of Chavez’s ill health, the Venezuelan oligarchy and imperialism have renewed their campaign of destabilisation against the Bolivarian Revolution. They risk unleashing the wrath of the workers and the poor.

Exposing Five Key Media Myths about Chavez’s Health and Swearing-in

chris — Tue, 08 Jan 2013 23:38:54 +0000

Ewan Robertson and Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Over the last few weeks the private English language media has stepped up its campaign against the Venezuelan revolution, spreading a number of lies and misconceptions around President Hugo Chavez’s health, and the swearing-in for his new term. Here, Venezuelanalysis.com debunks the top five lies currently being spread by private media.

The Electoral Strategy of the Venezuelan Opposition Comes Back to Haunt Them

tamara — Mon, 24 Dec 2012 19:25:30 +0000

Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com

Venezuela’s opposition spent virtually all of 2012 on the road campaigning for political office, but they ended the year worse off than when they started, in part because of their own campaign tactics.

Venezuela’s 2012 State Election: Lessons for Chavismo and the Opposition

ewan — Tue, 18 Dec 2012 22:58:10 +0000

Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com

What does the 2012 regional election tell us about the current political situation in Venezuela and trends going into next year, including for the differing scenarios depending on whether Chavez will be able to assume his next presidential term?

Venezuela: Capitalists Want to Use Chávez’s Health Problems to Strangle the Revolution

ewan — Fri, 14 Dec 2012 16:29:39 +0000

Jorge Martín - In Defence of Marxism

Jorge Martín argues, "What we can see is a situation in which the capitalists are exerting pressure on the leadership of the Bolivarian movement towards conciliation and concessions. On the other hand the Bolivarian masses want to push forward".

The 2002 Oil Lockout: 10 Years Later

ewan — Fri, 07 Dec 2012 17:50:23 +0000

Yuleidys Hernandez Toledo – Ciudad CCS / CdO International

Building nearly a million homes, strengthening the national healthcare system, and creating productive sources of new employment are just a few of the things the national government could have done with the $20 billion dollars lost during the oil lockout launched by the Venezuelan opposition on December 2, 2002.