Features: Politics

Municipal Election Results: Venezuela Winning the War Waged against It

By Tamara Pearson- Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 9th 2013

PSUV active members meeting in the lead up to the municipal elections (Telesur/archive)

Following a hard year for us, yesterday’s positive election result came as a relief. It is a hopeful result that gives a well deserved finger to the bitter, whinging opposition, and their private media buddies. However, the political significance of the result is also more complicated than that, and it is now time to focus our energy on really consolidating this revolution.

What are the Stakes in Venezuela's Municipal Elections?

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Nov 24th 2013

(agencies)

What are the stakes for both Chavismo and the opposition in the upcoming municipal elections, and is it accurate to see the elections as a type of “plebiscite” on the government?

Venezuelan Elections, Participation, and the Finger

By Tamara Pearson- Venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 30th 2013

Merida governor Alexis Ramirez (in white) campaigning in the barrio of Santa Anita last Sunday (Tamara Pearson / Venezuelanaly

The PSUV recently announced its candidates for the December elections, overriding a primaries process of selection that had been underway when Chavez died. From under confidence and vulnerability, to a disorganised grassroots and a strong-ish opposition, VA examines what is behind such a move.

Letting Go of April: It's Time For Capriles to End His Gap Year

By Ryan Mallett-Outtrim - Venezuelanalysis.com, Aug 23rd 2013

An opposition protest that turned violent following the 14 April elections (Ryan Mallett-Outtrim/Venezuelanalysis)

In the immediate aftermath of the 14 April presidential elections, opposition leader Henrique Capriles appeared to be heading a serious challenge to the new Maduro government. Now, less than six months later the opposition movement has lost much of the momentum it once enjoyed.

Venezuelan Opposition Give the Game Away on Electoral Fraud Claim

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Jun 4th 2013

Ramon Guillero Aveledo, executive secretary of the opposition MUD coalition (archive)

Recent contradictory statements made by the opposition about the Venezuelan electoral system suggest that even the opposition are not convinced by Henrique Capriles’ claim of fraud in the April election.

After Chavez: Grassroots Fight on Despite Opposition’s War of Attrition

By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com, May 31st 2013

A mural in Merida characterising Henrique Capriles as a chameleon (Tamara Pearson/ Venezuelanalysis.com)

The rightwing is waging a war of attrition against the Bolivarian revolution; trying to break it with constant psychological, media, and economic based attacks. The government and grassroots have remained firm after the passing of Chavez, yet are showing some weaknesses as well as they face the new period.

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

By Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Apr 20th 2013

Henrique Capriles holds up a vote tally at a press conference last Monday (Getty Images)

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.

Understanding the Venezuelan Presidential Election Outcome

By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Apr 15th 2013

"The most simple of us, we will win", activists painted above this barrio entrance in Merida (Tamara Pearson/ Venezuel

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?

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

By Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Mar 27th 2013

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

By Ewan Robertson and Tamara Pearson - Venezuelanalysis.com , Jan 8th 2013

Venezuelans signing a petition on Sunday against the media distortions (agencies)

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.

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

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 18th 2012

The political map of Venezuela’s regions turned even further red after the PSUV took 20 of 23 states in the 2012 regional elec

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’s State Elections: When Winning Comes before Revolution

By Tamara Pearson - VENEZUELANALYSIS.COM, Dec 12th 2012

Supporters rally for PSUV candidate for Merida, Alexis Ramirez. Their placards say “Alexis – governor, loyalty always” (YV

Internal debate and criticism of the PSUV and its current state election campaign, as well as proper grassroots involvement, has been put off, and put off, because in this incredibly democratic country there is always some kind of election coming up. Yet for how long will such sacrifices be made in the name of defeating the capitalist opposition?

Venezuela’s Presidential Elections: An Imperfect-Victory

By Tamara Pearson – Venezuelanalysis.com, Oct 8th 2012

People celebrating the victory outside the Miraflores Palace (Tamara Pearson / Venezuelanalysis.com)

Venezuelanalysis.com examines the causes and consequences of yesterday's election results.

Impressions of the Venezuelan Election: Participatory Democracy vs. Western Democratic Decline

By Ewan Robertson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Sep 28th 2012

A young activist explains why she supports Venezuela's Bolivarian revolution at a mass pro-Chavez rally: "I support th

I’ve witnessed the self-assured superiority of Paris, the imperial arrogance of Washington, the capitalist decadence of New York’s Manhattan, parliamentary elections in Germany, and my fair share of elections in Britain. In none of them have I encountered a democratic political culture as profound as Venezuela’s.

Interview: The Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) - How Thousands of Movements are Constructing their Revolutionary Organisation

By Jessica Pernia, Tamara Pearson – Venezuelanlaysis.com., Feb 28th 2012

Jessica Pernia (Tamara Pearson- Venezuelanalysis.com)

In this interview Venezuelanalysis talks to one of the activists who has been involved in the formation of the GPP almost right from the start. Although the GPP, an organisation which formally unites 35,000 Venezuelan movements and collectives, is just in its initial stages, we try to get a hang of what kind of organisation it could be, and the processes and forces that have been involved in its formation.