Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Patrick J. O'Donoghue's news and views from Venezuela -- November 25, 2008

Speaking to international reporters, President Chavez says he will not ask for any new constitutional reform that includes his possible re-election. The question has been first and foremost in the majority of foreign media analysts before and after the elections and of course, was a priority question for foreign correspondents. However, the President did state that it's possible that the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) or other popular sectors make a formal request for indefinite re-election under the Constitution. The President insists that he has four years left in government and will continue to accelerate Socialism, which has priority over personal ambitions.

Recognizing opposition victories, President Chavez has called on the new state governors of Tachira and Carabobo, Cesar Perez Vivas and Henrique Salas Feo to act seriously, if they want to be considered leaders. Chavez complains that they have already started on a bad footing, proclaiming themselves as winners before time and disrespecting electoral norms. The President warns them to look in the mirror of 2002 and 2003 and ask themselves if they want to form a serious political opposition respecting the norms, respecting the population and respecting the State or return to form. Referring to the new state governor of Miranda, Henrique Capriles Radonski, Chavez says he will be assessing the former Baruta mayor's administration, after a post-electoral statement that Capriles Radonski does not want to confront the government. Chavez recalls that five years ago, Capriles Radonski was one of the leaders of the coup d'etat against the government.

President Chavez insists that PSUV wins in 17 states are part of a great victory for the revolutionary camp, even though he recognizes what he calls "limited, partial and sectorial" victories of some opposition movements and leaders. President Chavez calls on the opposition leaders to enter into reason, reminding them that a year ago after the result of the reform referendum, he advised them to manage their victory well and he repeats the same message today.

Despite losing the race for Zulia State Governorship and Maracaibo Mayor's Office, the PSUV won in 13 of 17 municipalities. PSUV incumbents were returned in the Guajira region and Baralt, while party candidates were elected mayors in Francisco Javier Pulgar, Rosario de Perija, Canada de Urdaneta and Valmore Rodriguez municipalities. The PSUV obtained important victories in the populous municipalities of San Francisco, Cabimas and Colon.

PSUV media director, Vanessa Davies says the party has become the major political force in Venezuela and last Sunday's electoral results are proof of the successes of the Bolivarian revolution. Speaking about a post-electoral internal review, Davies says that it will be undertaken with humility and with the grassroots. "The internal review is part of the national leadership's commitment to a necessary self criticism process that will give a further boost to the revolutionary process." Abstention, Davies declares, was the biggest loser on Sunday remaining at 35% and the elections were a sign that the "majority of Venezuelans believe in participative and protagonist democracy" ... that in itself was a victory.

PSUV candidate for the mayor's office of Valencia, Edgardo Parra has claimed victory with 38.13% of votes, despite the state governorship going to opposition leader, Henrique Salas Feo. In Puerto Cabello, PSUV candidate and former Ambassador to Italy, Rafael Lacava has been declared the new mayor after winning 58.13% of the popular vote.

All in all, it would appear that the PSUV has made a clean sweep in practically all the country's municipalities.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com

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Venezuela is facing the most difficult period of its history with honest reporters crippled by sectarianism on top of rampant corruption within the administration and beyond, aided and abetted by criminal forces in the US and Spanish governments which cannot accept the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people to decide over their own future.

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