Courtesy of: Agence France Presse
This week: With the April 14 election approaching, the “David and Goliath contest” between opposition candidate Henrique Capriles and acting president Nicolás Maduro begins; Capriles launches a nationwide tour as part of his campaign to replace the late President Hugo Chávez; Maduro’s launches anti-U.S. accusations as part of his campaign rhetoric and propaganda; and the Venezuelan government cuts off the last remaining direct line of communication with the U.S. Supporters of the government attack protesting students; as violence continues to spread through Venezuela, many hope for a change post-Chávez; Chávez’s funeral procession offers a harsh reminder of the bleak Venezuela he left behind; and despite having the largest oil reserves in the world, economists predict Venezuela’s inflation will continue to rise in 2013. New Venezuelan foreign exchange system released by Maduro offers little detail and skirts key issues; Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB), the world’s largest oil-services company, reduces work in Venezuela because of difficulties getting paid by state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA; by mentioning Chávez’s name around 3,500 times in just 16 days, Maduro continues to use the late president to ramp up support; and the Venezuelan government turns ordinary events like book fairs into de facto campaign rallies for Maduro.
Venezuela’s election: Battling it out, The Economist
On April 14th, Venezuelans will elect a new president. The choice, if one believes what the two main candidates say about each other, is between “a son of the parasitical bourgeoisie” and “a lying, incompetent usurper”.
Henrique Capriles Launches Venezuelan Campaign Tour, The Huffington Post
Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles has launched a nationwide tour as part of his campaign to replace the late President Hugo Chavez.
Anti-US Accusations in Venezuela Seen as Campaign Rhetoric, Voice of America
Venezuela’s Acting President Nicolas Maduro has been making unsubstantiated accusations against Washington, also accusing the United States of plotting to kill Venezuela’s opposition candidate for president.
Venezuela Halts Communication With US Diplomat, ABC News
Venezuela’s government has halted lines of communication established by a top U.S. diplomat to protest what it says has been U.S. interference in the country’s internal affairs ahead of an election set next month to replace the late President Hugo Chavez.
Chavez Supporters Clash With Student Protestors During Demonstration, Huffington Post
Supporters of the late President Hugo Chavez hurled rocks and bottles Thursday in an attack on student protesters who were marching against perceived bias by Venezuela’s electoral council.
Venezuela plagued by violent crime, The Associated Press
On their daily cable car rides to and from home in Venezuela’s capital, Maria Gonzalez and Jose Rafael Suarez soar in a bubble of safety far above the deadly, trash-strewn streets below.
Hugo Chavez Coffin Parades Past Venezuela’s Ills, ABC
The road from the military academy where Hugo Chavez’s body has been lying in state to the hilltop museum where he’ll be displayed indefinitely is lined with some of the most dangerous slums on the planet.
Venezuela to face high inflation in 2013, Global Times
Among the economic challenges facing Venezuela, the country with the largest oil reserves in the world, experts say the worst is sustained high inflation.
Venezuela gives few details of new forex system, Reuters
Venezuela vowed on Tuesday to provide more dollars to importers through a new foreign exchange system, but officials gave only vague details of how it will work and skirted around key issues including what the rate would be.
Schlumberger to Reduce Venezuela Work on Unpaid Bills, Bloomberg
Schlumberger Ltd. (SLB), the world’s largest oil-services company, is reducing work in Venezuela because of trouble getting paid by state-owned Petroleos de Venezuela SA.
How to keep Chavez memory alive? Name him 200 times a day!, Reuters
Hugo Chavez’s protege and the new flagbearer of socialism in Venezuela has lost no time proving his loyalty in public – in fact, 3,456 times in just 16 days.
Venezuelan government turns book fair into another celebration of Hugo Chavez’s legacy, The Washington Post
Near the entrance to Venezuela’s national book fair, an image of the late Hugo Chavez holding a can of paint in one hand and a brush in the other greets visitors.