Venezuela Vote a Test for Chavez Allies

[Judi Lynn]

Venezuela Vote a Test for Chavez Allies
By JORGE RUEDA, Associated Press Writer

Saturday, August 6, 2005

(08-06) 15:53 PDT CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) --

Thousands of candidates are competing Sunday in local elections that could forecast the popularity of President Hugo Chavez's political allies ahead of key congressional elections in December.

In several recent elections, opposition leaders have called boycotts, saying the country's electoral council is stacked in Chavez's favor. This time, the major opposition parties are urging voters to go to the polls to demonstrate unity.

"It doesn't matter if we have a crooked electoral council," said Henry Ramos Allup, an opposition lawmaker who is up for re-election in December. "We have to go out and vote."

Electoral officials have said thorough preparations have been made for fair and transparent elections.
(snip/...)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2005/08/06/international/i155316D27.DTL



Henry Ramos Allup

Ramos can't get along with other opposition people, apparently:

Venezuela's Biggest Opposition Party Splits from Anti-Chavez Coalition

Monday, Apr 19, 2004
By: Martin Sanchez, Venezuelanalysis.com


Caracas, Venezuela, Apr 19 (Venezuelanalysis.com).- Accion Democratica (AD), Venezuela’s biggest opposition party, decided to split form the Coordinadora Democratica, a coalition that groups political parties that oppose the government of Hugo Chavez.

The announcement was made by AD’s Secretary General Henry Ramos Allup, who denounced that other opposition parties have a hidden agenda. Ramos said his party will not attend any meetings of the Coordinadora Democrática coalition unless the meetings are taped or have direct media coverage.

Ramos accused other opposition parties of wanting to sabotage the process of verification of signatures (repair) for a possible recall referendum on President Chavez’s mandate. "We reject the repugnant and disloyal actions by some who say something at the meetings, and then say something totally different to the media," said Ramos.
(snip/...)

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=1252

[mom cat]

1. Sounds like an important split in the opposition to Chavez! Nominated!

[bemildred]

2. While loud, they have never been particularly organized or competent.

Their notion that they are entitled to rule is not based on any actual superiority of ability that I can see.

The interesting thing in this election will be to see how the Bolivarian candidates do. Estimates posted here before were that they should take about 75%, but I would not discount a bit of expectation lowering there.