Page 11 - Aruba Today

WORLD NEWS A11
Friday 4 December 2015

Venezuela’s socialist party risks unprecedented defeat

“Seventeen years of vic- of South American Nations,
tory,” runs one ad tagline.
Some of its tactics, includ- a regional bloc that critics
ing barring prominent
opponents from running say lacks the experience
and handing out goodies
like Chinese-made tablet and objectivity to mediate
computers, have drawn
rebukes from the U.S. and any messy fight over results.
other foreign governments
who say the playing field is The ruling party is doing all
tilted.
“We see these tricks with it can to tap into the deep
every election, but this
year they’ve turned up the love many Venezuelans
volume,” said Luis Lander,
director of the non-parti- still feel for Chavez, wide-
san watchdog group Ven-
ezuela Electoral Observa- ly seen as the first leader
tory.
Unlike past Venezuelan to share the country’s oil
elections, which drew le-
gitimacy from international bounty with the masses.
monitoring, the only for-
eign delegation looking on On Sunday, some voters
this time is from the Union
will cast ballots in polling

centers called “Pure Blood

of Chavez” and “Chavez’s

Genius.”

Government supporter

Martha Rivera, an archi-

tect, is nervous that re-

linquishing control of the

Assembly would doom

A supporter of the Mesa de la Unidad (MUD) political party chants during a closing campaign Chavez’s programs.

rally in Caracas, Venezuela. The Dec. 6 ballot for Venezuelan congressional elections has more “They’ll use their foothold

than two dozen parties competing in a contest that represents the stiffest challenge in 16 years to stage a coup,” she

for Venezuela’s ruling socialist party. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) said.q

HANNAH DREIER dent Nicolas Maduro, and said.
Associated Press back up claims that his The mounting tension has
CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) party’s mandate is crum- spilled into violence, with
— Venezuelans are stock- bling. The socialists current- opposition candidates
piling food and putting off ly hold 99 of Venezuela’s complaining of armed
plans as the South Ameri- 167 legislative seats. men surrounding their car-
can country brims with It’s also possible govern- avans and beating their
excitement and dread ment opponents could aides.
ahead of elections that win the popular vote by a The fatal shooting of an
could hand the opposition landslide, but fail to gain opposition politician at a
control of congress for the that super-majority due to campaign rally last week
first time since 1998. a voting system that favors increased already high
A loss would end a 17-year less populated rural districts levels of anxiety. Many
chain of electoral victories over opposition-leaning ur- Venezuelans are putting
that the socialist move- ban areas. their lives on hold until af-
ment founded by Hugo Opposition leaders warn- ter Election Day, delaying
Chavez has often used to ing that a loss Sunday business travel, putting off
defend itself against alle- would amount to proof decisions and even hold-
gations that it’s undemo- that the government com- ing back on taking cars in
cratic. mitted vote fraud. Mad- for repairs. On Saturday,
Polls show the opposition uro’s allies, meanwhile, shoppers with hand trucks
coalition holding a 30 point ridicule the opposition for mobbed a trading center
lead, buoyed by voters appearing to take a victo- where black market goods
defecting from the social- ry lap before ballots have are sold, saying they were
ist party because of high been cast. stockpiling pantry items just
crime, widespread short- At a weekend rally, Mad- in case.
ages and triple-digit infla- uro shouted that he would The socialist party, which
tion. “never surrender the revo- has won every national
That puts it within grasping lution.” election except a 2007
distance of a two-thirds “If the hard-core right- constitutional referendum
congressional majority, wingers win on Dec. 6, pre- that would have expand-
an outcome that would pare for chaos, violence ed Chavez’s powers, is try-
breathe life into threats to and protests that over- ing hard to project a sense
recall Chavez’s heir, Presi- whelm this country,” he of electoral invincibility.