Page 12 - ARUBA TODAY

A12 WORLD NEWS
Monday 11 deceMber 2017

At Press Time:

Venezuela sees low turnout in mayoral elections

to seek re-election despite uro’s unpopularity to gains.
his steep unpopularity. Opposition candidates suf-
But various polling places fered a crushing defeat in
appeared to be sparsely October’s gubernatorial
filled as voting started at elections, winning just five
sunrise, and only a handful of 23 races amid allega-
of people were seen cast- tions of official vote-buying
ing their ballot. “Let’s hope and irregularities. Three of
they’re late sleepers and the four biggest opposi-
this isn’t a phenomenon of tion parties said they were
abstention,” said retired li- boycotting Sunday’s may-
brarian Jose Tomas Franco, oral races in protest of
adding that low turnout at what they called a rigged
the polling station where he electoral system. But given
voted in the capital of Ca- the disarray, political ana-
racas was “alarming.” lysts said they doubted
Elections are taking place that Maduro’s opponents
against a backdrop of will be able to rally behind
soaring inflation, short- a single candidate in next
ages of food and medi- year’s presidential election.
cine, and charges that “The opposition is con-
Maduro’s government has demned to trying to find a
undermined Venezuela’s solution to its internal prob-
Electoral workers wait for voters at an empty polling station during mayoral elections in Caracas,
Venezuela, Sunday, Dec. 10, 2017. Venezuelans will choose hundreds of mayors on Sunday in democracy by imprisoning lems,” said Edgard Gutier-
elections pitting candidates backed by President Nicolas Maduro against a fractured opposition dissidents and usurping the rez, coordinator of local
still bruised by a poor showing in recent gubernatorial voting. powers of the opposition- pollster Venebarometro.
(AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) controlled Congress. “Either that or simply not
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) candidates backed by The vote for mayors in all of Economic and political compete in 2018.” The last
— Mayoral elections be- President Nicolas Maduro Venezuela’s 335 municipal- crises have caused the so- time the opposition refused
gan at a sluggish pace in and a fractured opposition ities is the last national elec- cialist president’s approval to compete, in congres-
Venezuela on Sunday, as still bruised by a poor show- tion scheduled before next rating to plunge, although sional elections in 2005, it
voters appeared to abstain ing in recent gubernatorial year’s presidential race, in the opposition has been strengthened the govern-
from choosing between races. which Maduro is expected largely unable to ride Mad- ment’s hand for years. q

Pablo Escobar’s hit man Popeye accused of violating parole

BOGOTA, Colombia (AP) spending 22 years in jail drug traffickers, constituted guards, young women, He also provided prosecu-
— Colombian authorities for plotting the murder of a “very serious” offense, bountiful alcohol and lots tors with testimony that led
are seeking to re-arrest a an ex-presidential candi- said the country’s chief of gambling. to the conviction of a for-
former hit man for late drug date. Since being released, prosecutor’s office. It was unclear what Velas- mer justice minister close to
lord Pablo Escobar for vio- Velasquez has gained noto- The U.S. had been offering quez was doing at the par- Escobar.
lating his parole after he riety as an author and You- a $2 million bounty for Me- ty. El Tiempo newspaper But even while expressing
was caught partying with a Tube celebrity who delivers sa’s capture. reported that police seized regret about his crimes, he
major trafficker wanted by angry diatribes against left- Police raided the party on more than $40,000 in cash, continued to demonstrate
the U.S., prosecutors said ist rebels, corrupt politicians Friday at a country house jewelry and seven luxury admiration for his former
Saturday. and Venezuela’s socialist near Medellin where they cars. boss.
Jhon Jairo Velasquez, government. arrested Mesa, alias Tom, Velasquez took advantage “If Pablo Escobar were to
known by his nickname His presence at a raucous who was celebrating his of his time behind bars to be reborn I’d go with him
Popeye, was paroled in birthday party for Juan 50th birthday in almost ste- obtain a number of aca- without thinking,” he told
2014 after confessing to Carlos Mesa, one of Co- reotypical narco form: sur- demic degrees and to seek El Tiempo newspaper in
hundreds of murders and lombia’s most-wanted rounded by armed body- forgiveness from his victims. 2013.q