News: Politics

Electoral Campaign in Venezuela Advances, Chavez Rejects Opposition's Neoliberal Package

Sep 11th 2012

Chavez has been travelling Venezuela as part of his election campaign (noticierodigital)

Current Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has strongly criticised a leaked document from the country's political opposition, the MUD, (Roundtable of Democratic Unity) which proposes a number of privatisations and the elimination of many of the present government's social programs. The Venezuelan head of state made the comments at a political rally last Sunday in Charallave, in the opposition controlled Miranda state.

Voter Information Booths Opened throughout Venezuela

Sep 11th 2012

The information booths include sample ballot papers, asistence with voting machines, and information on where voters are regist

From last Saturday through to the end of this month, Venezuela’s National Electoral Council (CNE) is operating special information booths throughout the country offering voters a chance to see the electronic voting machines ahead of the presidential vote on October 7.

Chavez: Venezuelan Opposition 'Aggression Against the People'

Sep 7th 2012

Chavez speaking to an assembly of workers in Vargas state last week (ojopelao.com)

Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez described the program of the opposition presidential candidate Henriques Capriles Radonski, running for the right-wing Roundtable for Unity (MUD) coalition, as "an aggression against the Venezuelan people."

Venezuelan Government Welcomes Colombian Peace Accord

Sep 5th 2012

Venezuela’s foreign minister Nicolas Maduro (AVN)

Yesterday in an official statement, President Hugo Chavez expressed his “happiness” at the announcement of a general accord between the government of Colombia and the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) which outlines dialogue steps towards ending the “long night of violence” Colombia has been subject to since the 1960s.

More than 1.8 Million Venezuelans Turn out to Vote in Election Run-Through

Sep 4th 2012

Queuing to vote in Carapita, Caracas (Rachael Boothroyd - Venezuelanalysis)

Over 10% of Venezuela's 18.9 million registered voters turned out to take part in an election day practice-run on Sunday, which allowed the country's citizens to try out voting machines at electoral centres across the country.

Unasur to Send Electoral Mission to Venezuela’s Presidential Election

Aug 24th 2012

CNE president Tibisay Lucena said Unasur’s decision to send an electoral mission to Venezuela’s presidential election is “

The president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena, said Tuesday that the signing of an agreement with the Union of South American Nations (Unasur) by which Unasur will send a mission to monitor the presidential elections of 7 October 2012, represents “a giant step for democracy in Latin America”.

Venezuelan Opposition Economic Plan to Roll Back Public Services Revealed

Aug 24th 2012

Independent politician David de Lima accused the presidential campaign of Henrique Capriles Radonski for the MUD coalition of pr

An internal document has been leaked to Venezuelan press revealing the economic policy of Venezuela's political opposition, the Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), should they win the presidential elections in October. The plan includes the deregulation of banks, opening up the economy to private investment and the reduction of state funding for public services and communal council projects.

Venezuelan Opposition Sticks up Signs to Scare Caracas Small Businesses

Aug 21st 2012

The posters were found stuck to businesses around Caracas on Monday morning (Cortesia CCS).

A range of shops and kiosks located on University Avenue, in the centre of Caracas, woke up on Monday to posters that read “this could be expropriated”, part of a propaganda campaign of intimidation by the opposition in the lead up to the 7 October presidential elections.

Presidential Election Campaign in Venezuela Picks up Pace

Aug 21st 2012

Chavez and Capriles delivered distinct conceptions of Venezuela’s development in campaign events last week (AVN)

Venezuela’s presidential election campaign picked up its pace over the weekend, with candidates President Hugo Chavez and Capriles Radonski presenting very different visions of Venezuela’s future development.

Polar Company Employees Denounce Destabilisation Plan before Presidential Elections

Aug 20th 2012

On Saturday, Polar employees accused the company of attempting to destabilise the country in the run up to the presidential elec

The 34,000 employees who work at the Polar Business food production conglomerate in Venezuela have denounced what they describe as a violation of their labour and social rights, and have accused the company of attempting to destabilise the country in the run up to the presidential elections on October 7^th.

Venezuelans Test out New Voting System Ahead of Elections

Aug 6th 2012

A voter places their voting card in the secret ballot box (lasaeta)

Over 226,000 Venezuelans were eligible to try out Venezuela’s new electronic voting system yesterday, in a test run of the new electoral machines prior to the country’s national elections in October this year.

Venezuelan Electoral Council to Investigate Media Bias in Presidential Election Campaign

Aug 3rd 2012

CNE Vice President Sandra Oblitas (archive)

The National Electoral Council (CNE) has announced an investigation into cases of state and private media infringement of election rules during Venezuela’s presidential election campaign, while also calling upon opposition candidate Henrique Capriles to stop using national symbols in violation of electoral law.

Venezuelan Opposition: “No More Preferential Oil Deals”

Aug 2nd 2012

Capriles said that oil-rich Venezuela would not give away even “one drop” of “free oil” to other countries if he were el

In his first public statement on his prospective oil policy were he to be elected, opposition candidate Capriles Radonski said that he would put an end to Venezuela’s current preferential oil deals with governments abroad, in favour of spending the revenue from the country’s petroleum industry on domestic “social programs”.

Venezuela’s Electoral Commission Ramps up Security Measures

Jul 30th 2012

The new Venezuelan voting machine (noticias24)

With just over 10 weeks before the realization of the country’s presidential elections, Venezuela’s National Electoral Commission (CNE) is tightening its preparations for October 7 through heightened security measures and high-tech anti-fraud initiatives.

Presidential Candidates Sign Electoral Agreement for “Democracy”

Jul 19th 2012

MUD representative, Juan Carlos Caldera, signed the document on behalf of Capriles (cne.gov.ve)

Candidates for the Venezuelan presidential elections signed an agreement drafted by the National Electoral Committee (CNE) on Tuesday, obliging candidates to “respect the laws which regulate the electoral process” and to “recognise the results” announced by the CNE in October.