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.
By Chris Carlson - Venezuelanalysis.com, Dec 24th 2012
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.
Doubts persist over whether the opposition will accept the official result of Sunday’s presidential vote, after opposition leader Henry Ramos Allup stated “if you, Mr President [Hugo Chavez], win by one vote, no one is going to believe it”.
Opposition legislator William Ojeda yesterday criticised a “hidden agenda” of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD) opposition coalition. He was expelled from his political party a few hours later.
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.
Government representatives and private media have said opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles’ campaign is “stagnating” as he fails to gain support, while journalists also marched yesterday protesting violent attacks committed against them by Capriles’ supporters.
By Tamara Pearson – Venezuelanalysis.com, Feb 15th 2012
In order to legitimate their presidential candidate the opposition has run primaries in which it held raffles in order to get votes, lied about voter turnout numbers, and quickly burnt all voting evidence.
By Correo del Orinoco International , Jan 27th 2012
This week Venezuelan opposition forces demonstrated a false showing of unity against President Hugo Chavez in preparation for next October’s presidential elections.
Opposition members running in their primaries to select a presidential candidate must each pay Bs 525,000 (US$ 122,000) to their coalition in order to run.
Members of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) denounced the “arrogant and intolerant” policy of the Spanish Popular Party (PP) this Sunday, after it was discovered that the PP was actively supporting the Venezuelan opposition bloc, the “Roundtable of Democratic Unity” (MUD).
