CNE director: "This is the most outrageous campaign in Venezuelan history"

[spanza]

Source: El Universal

The municipal election campaign is "the most outrageous campaign Venezuela ever had in many years; I'd dare say in Venezuelan history," said Vicente Díaz, a member of the board of the National Electoral Council (CNE).

According to Díaz, the current campaign is marked by "institutionalization of the government advantageous position" and public servants' engagement in electioneering "on behalf of political candidates without stepping down, as appropriate."

"We have seen the president of the Republic on obligatory simultaneous broadcast, attacking, stigmatizing, questioning, lambasting opposition candidates and leaders," he lamented.

Díaz regretted that state-owned TV channel Venezolana de Televisión (VTV) restlessly airs spots "degrading opposition candidates."

Read more: http://www.eluniversal.com/nacional-y-politica/131205/cne-director-this-is-the-most-outrageous-campaign-in-venezuelan-histor

[spanza]

1. Antipublicity is forbidden in Venezuela. nt

[MADem]

3. Venezuela is a no longer a democracy, it's a banana republic ruled by a nutcase. nt

[7962]

2. The slow swirl down the tubes continues for a great country.

Pretty soon shortages will be in short supply

[FairWinds]

4. Black Ops Alert

El Universal is not to be trusted as all. They make stuff up almost as much as FOX "anti-news".
It's really classic propaganda. You'll notice in the post there are not even any specific charges,
just vague innuendo.
Really, that's just like FOX.
I'll bet El Universal's editors & Roger Ailes went to the same CIA school of anti-journalism.

[snooper2]

5. I know RIGHT!

I bet they were the ones that cut that little cable wiping power out for the country too!

[Ranchemp.]

7. Far more trustworthy than the corrupt Maduro regime

and their compliant toadies in the media.

[joshcryer]

6. cadenas = Emergency Broadcasting System

They've been abused since Chavez era as a way for the Venezuelan government to completely take over the entire airspace for the duration that they are on. It is not an exaggeration.

Hundreds and hundreds of hours of "chains" during campaigns is utterly totalitarian, Orwellian, even. Big Brother-esque. It would be akin to a US President doing an Oval Office Address, daily, for hours on end.

Nicolas Maduro media campaign before the campaign:
130 hours of Nicolás Maduro in National Chain
156 transmissions
30 minutes each day (average)

Nicolas Maduro media campaign in election season:
9 hours Nicolas Maduro in National Chain
9 transmissions
49 minutes each day (average)

Electoral opportunism in VTV before the campaign:
259 hours of Nicolás Maduro in VTV, Channel State
169 transmissions
1 hour and 33 minutes each day (average)

Electoral opportunism on VTV in election season:
28 hours Nicolas Maduro in VTV, Channel State
16 transmissions
1 hour and 48 minutes each day (average)

If anyone tells you that the private media is completely owned by evil opportunists that are trying to crush the government know that they are lying, the Venezuelan government has more than enough airtime to propagandize.

[FairWinds]

8. Is there opposition media in Venezuela ?

Of course there is . . from the BBC.
". . . some 70% of Venezuela's radio and TV stations are in private hands with just under 5% are state-owned. The rest are community media organisations, most pro-government."
For DU posters to suggest, imply or state the contrary is NOT TRUE.
I would welcome an informed debate on DU as to the negative and positive aspects of the Bolivarian Revolution in Venezuela.
But this propaganda ? Not so much.

[Igel]

10. From the site you quote--so you must think it a truthful, reliable site --

"However, President Chavez frequently reaches beyond the state TV's audiences by delivering speeches, known as cadenas, which must be carried on almost the entire national broadcast system."

Ownership often doesn't matter. De facto control matters more. That's from Elementary Authoritarian Regimes 101.



There's also a very nice media law that authorizes a state committee to figure out when a newscast or newsreport defames the government. In other words, you say bad thing about Maduro and the group that'll be deciding if you've defamed him are Maduro appointees.

[freshwest]

9. Some were mad at Obama for not 'showing his pair' or going for opponents with sharp claws.

One of the earliest complaints was Obama not cursing to show he was 'angry' and not 'fighting hard enough.' As if a public display of temper and name calling would help here. Sending guys to arrest opponents shows that Maduro is doing both.

In Maduro, the world finally has a 'tough guy' at the helm of a nation at last instead of a plain speaking philosopher. Most know Obama has never paused in his work, nor taken the easy role of a bully. If PBO did this, some would cheer, others would hiss, just like now in Venezuela.

Would those who wanted PBO to 'show some balls,' be happy if Obama did this here? Why not enjoy what Maduro is doing to 'stick it to the man,' ironically enough, by playing the role of 'the man' himself?

It would be comical, but people will likely die in this showdown. Another day, another news story.

Happy holiday, DU.