Page 8 - ARUBA TODAY

A8 WORLD NEWS
Friday 18 May 2018

Grave crisis drives apathy in Venezuelan election

phone urged residents to Polls suggest that turnout during months of dem-
vote for one of President could be the lowest since onstrations that resulted
Nicolas Maduro's chal- the late Hugo Chavez was in more than 130 deaths,
lengers, who are looking to first elected president in many at the hands of secu-
capitalize on growing so- 1998. The opposition's main rity forces.
cial discontent. parties have called for Indeed, other than Mad-
"I really don't care what a boycott because their uro, who has drawn larger
happens on Sunday," said leaders were barred from crowds of state employees
Villa, 47, holding up her bag running, and legions of their and beneficiaries of gov-
of raw chicken skins to feed supporters won't vote after ernment social programs,
herself and her 6-year-old joining an unprecedented the biggest turnout has
daughter for the week. "My wave of 1 million Venezu- been for long-shot candi-
priority is paying for this." elans that have fled the date Javier Bertucci, a TV
After two decades of po- country in recent years. evangelist who appeals to
larizing socialist rule, Ven- Maduro's main challenger, voters' stomachs by serving
ezuelans have grown ac- Henri Falcon, has drawn free soup at his rallies.
In this May 11, 2018 photo, Vaceliza Villa holds a bag of raw customed to seeing entire tiny crowds and scant me- Some polls say voters favor
chicken skin in an outdoor market, as a boisterous electoral highways filled with some dia coverage in his criss- Falcon, a former acolyte of
campaign marches past, in Caracas, Venezuela. “I really don’t
care what happens on Sunday,” said Villa, 47, holding up her of the world's biggest po- crossing of the country. Chavez. But many believe
bag of raw chicken skins to feed herself and her 6-year-old litical demonstrations, both Even those favoring ab- he doesn't stand a chance
daughter for the week. “My priority is paying for this.” in support and against the stention are struggling to against well-oiled govern-
government. ignite a spark. Only a few ment machinery that will
By FABIOLA SANCHEZ and meal and pay for it with But despite impassioned hundred hard-line oppo- ensure Maduro's re-elec-
SCOTT SMITH money that is next to worth- pleas by the candidates, sition activists showed up tion to a second six-year
Associated Press less under runaway infla- the current campaign Wednesday for a march to term.
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) tion. seems almost sad by com- the offices of the Organiza- A poll by Datanalisis this
— Venezuela's presiden- Pausing on a bustling street parison and marked by tion of American States to month said 71 percent of
tial candidates are mak- to buy food, Vaceliza Villa apathy as mounting daily denounce the "fraudulent" Venezuelans — and 96 per-
ing their last-minute pitches didn't pay attention to a problems like shortages of election. That was a pale cent of opposition support-
before Sunday's election, noisy campaign marching everything from water to comparison to the masses ers — don't trust the nation's
though many people are through the heart of Cara- medicine go unresolved that took to the streets a electoral council, which is
hardly noticing as they cas' biggest slum, Petare. amid a grim economic cri- year ago attempting to controlled by government
struggle to find their next A woman with a mega- sis. force Maduro from office loyalists.q

The Latest: President Maduro predicts decisive win in vote

CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) porters. support, dancing in shorts for help online. inmates say jailers were
— The Latest on Venezu- However, several nations and waving a Venezuelan Caracas resident Yesabel bent on hurting them.
ela's presidential election including the United States flag. Brito was among the an- Brito says officials have
campaign (all times local): have rejected it as rigged Maduro in his remarks gry crowd Thursday pacing jailed her brother three
5:45 p.m. to ensure Maduro a sec- asked for all of Venezu- outside the building known years on suspicion of rob-
President Nicolas Maduro ond six-year term despite a ela's turning around the as the Helicoide. She said bery without justice.
says he's predicting a de- crashing economy. economy, vowing to fight officials would tell her noth- The crowd threw water on
cisive victory in this week- A once-wealthy oil state, corruption and criminals he ing about her brother in- presidential candidate Ja-
end's election that's drawn Venezuelans struggle to blamed for destroying it. side. vier Bertucci, who stopped
broad international con- find food and medicine as 4:05 p.m. Unrest in the Caracas jail by. They shouted that he
demnation. runaway inflation has pul- Families are gathered out- comes days before Sun- was exploiting their quest
Maduro on Thursday verized the value of their side the Venezuelan intel- day's presidential elections. for justice.
closed his campaign in an money. ligence police headquar- The Helicoide also holds Officials downplayed the
energized speech in the Soccer legend Diego ters, demanding answers Utah's Joshua Holt, jailed unrest, saying the inmates
capital of Caracas before Maradona took the stage a day after inmates held for two years without trial. were safely in their cells.
thousands of cheering sup- with Maduro to show his there posted urgent pleas Posts from Holt and other q