Tag Archives: opposition

Sep
29
2010
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Election wins could mean freedom for jailed candidates

This article was originally posted by Kentucky Lexington Herlad Leader

Opposition parties drafted four political prisoners to run in the hotly contested elections to focus attention on Venezuela’s political detainees – and force the government’s hand.

Venezuela’s constitution gives parliament members immunity, and legal scholars said there was no reason the winners should not be released.

Two of the candidates lost, including a well-known judge. The two winners include Jose “Mazuco” Sanchez, the former security chief for the state of Zulia. Jailed since 2007, Sanchez is accused of murdering a member of the Directorate of Military Intelligence. Sanchez has maintained his innocence and supporters say his real crime is being an ally of former presidential candidate Manuel Rosales, who is in exile in Peru.

The other prisoner turned parliamentarian is Biagio Pilieri, a former mayor who was elected to represent the state of Yaracuy. Pilieri has been detained for more than a year on charges he misused funds. Although he was absolved by the courts, he remains behind bars.

The National Electoral Council, CNE, confirmed Sanchez’s election for the state of Zulia, but Pilieri’s name was not on the roster of new representatives.

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Sep
28
2010
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Opposition fears Chavez may speed laws through

This article was originally posted by Reuters

Julio Borges, leader of the First Justice party and an incoming legislator, urged the government to avoid that temptation for the sake of plurality.

“The democratic way would be for the current assembly to recognize there is a new reality in the country and not give us the surprise of taking advantage and speeding through the approval of cowboy laws,” he told Reuters.

Chavez has had virtual carte blanche in parliament since the opposition boycotted a 2005 legislative poll.

But in weekend elections, the newly united opposition group Democratic Unity — which includes Borges’ party — won 65 seats, compared to 98 for Chavez’s ruling Socialist Party.

That will enable them to air dissenting views and muster enough votes to block some major legislation.

The new National Assembly convenes on January 5.

COMMON AGENDA SOUGHT

Chavez has a raft of proposals on his agenda to give more funding and power to local neighborhood political structures that are largely loyal to him. He is also known for springing surprises, like nationalizations, that are often quickly approved by parliament.

So the opposition fears he will use his window of opportunity before January to push through whatever he wants.

“The logical, civilized, decent thing would be to form a committee to find a common legislative agenda so the country can feel there is learning and understanding, and that we are on a better path,” Borges said in an interview.

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Sep
27
2010
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Venezuela opposition buoyed for 2012 presidential race

This article was originally posted by Forexyard

An empty balcony at Miraflores presidential palace told Venezuela’s latest election story.

When polls shut after a parliament vote that President Hugo Chavez’s party was confident of winning handsomely, officials ushered supporters and media towards the palace to await their man’s traditional triumphant appearance.

But as the hours ticked by into Monday morning, Socialist Party officials’ smiles evaporated while opposition euphoria rose at the realization they had won a crucial one-third of National Assembly seats and probably the overall popular vote.

The balcony — which Chavez has made famous from past election celebrations — remained empty through the night and the crowd outside finally trickled home.

Though the government kept a majority, officials had repeatedly said their goal was two-thirds of the Assembly, so the results felt more like defeat and the mood was similar to Chavez’s only actual vote loss in a 2007 referendum.

“This chips away at the aura of invincibility Chavez has had for so long,” a Western diplomat in Caracas said.

The result will, indeed, rejuvenate an opposition movement used to being defeated over and over again by Chavez.

Opposition leaders have proved that unity pays and have reason to believe they now have a decent shot at winning the 2012 presidential election if they can unite behind a single candidate and produce a policy platform that goes beyond simply being anti-Chavez.

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