More than 11 million Venezuelans voted today, electing 165 legislators to the national assembly and 12 to the Latin American Parliament, in 36,553 voting centres across the country. The PSUV won a majority of positions, but not the two thirds necessary for some decision making.
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.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez returned to Venezuela on Friday night, announcing a successful conclusion to his radiotherapy treatment in Cuba and his intention to return to the frontline of Venezuelan politics. Meanwhile, polls show him extending his advantage over rival Henrique Capriles Radonski.
By Stetephen Lendman - Correo del Orinoco International , May 4th 2012
After 12 years in office, Chavez remains overwhelmingly favored for reelection in October. Given the alternative, most Venezuelans have a clear choice.
Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has named his five delegates who will make up the country’s new “State Counsel,” after announcing in February that he would create the body.
Leader of the Cuban Revolution, Fidel Castro, talks about Hugo Chavez, the opposition's attempts to slander the Venezuelan president and what he decribes as a "concerning" attitude from Washington with regards to the South American nation.
Yesterday President Hugo Chavez phoned the state television channel VTV in order to dispel the rumours created by the opposition and private media that, following nine days of “absence” from public life while receiving radiotherapy in Cuba, he had “died” or had experienced a medical emergency.
After nine months campaigning for people to sign up for the electoral register, the CNE has closed the process, seeing non-registered voters reduced to 3.5% of the population. President Hugo Chavez also approved financial resources for the upcoming elections, as well as extra resources for state governments and for housing.
The National Secretary of Venezuela’s Communist Party, Pedro Eusse, has warned that the opposition coalition, the Roundtable of Democratic Unity (MUD), is laying the foundations to dispute the results of this year’s presidential elections in October, as well as to possibly incite violence.
By Rachael Boothroyd - Venezuelanalysis.com, Apr 3rd 2012
According to Latin American polling companies such as Datanalisis and Consultores 21, this year’s presidential elections in Venezuela will be a close-knit affair, and opposition candidate Capriles Radonski has decided he believes them, despite others polls giving Chavez 30% more of the vote. Venezuelanalysis.com argues that this could be part of the opposition's strategy.
