Page 11 - atoday
P. 11
WORLD NEWS A11
Tuesday 17 November 2015
Tricky candidates on ballot vex Venezuela opposition
HANNAH DREIER most every contest in the A supporter holds political propaganda of opposition candidate Ismael Garcia, from the MUD
Associated Press country,” the older Garcia
MARACAY, Venezuela said, canvassing a neigh- Unity party, explaining how to mark a vote for him for the upcoming Congressional elections as
(AP) — The ballot for con- borhood of low-slung cin-
gressional elections is dizzy- derblock homes where he he visits houses in Maracay, Venezuela. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)
ing enough in this industrial handed out a mock-up of
state, with more than two the ballot with a bright red
dozen parties competing arrow pointing to his name.
in a contest that represents Supporters trailed Garcia
the stiffest challenge in 16 as the congressional cam-
years for Venezuela’s ruling paigned for re-election,
socialist party. calling out the opposi-
But most worrisome for in- tion’s slogan for the district,
cumbent Ismael Garcia, which it won by a slim mar-
a fierce opponent of the gin in the last legislative
South American country’s elections: “Don’t get con-
deeply-unpopular socialist fused.” It would be easy
administration, is a 28-year- enough to make a mis-
old parking lot attendant take. The opposition Gar-
whose name will appear cia’s party is called MUD
directly beside his on the Unity, while the name of
ballot, under a nearly iden- the younger Garcia’s party
tical party title and blue is just two letters different:
logo. The younger man is MIN Unity.
also named Ismael Garcia. There are fewer than 150
And three weeks ahead adults in Venezuela named
of the Dec. 6 vote he has Ismael Garcia, according
yet to make a public ap- to state records. The young
pearance or even explain Garcia running in Maracay
his platform. The result has happens to work at the
been a bizarre campaign outdoor parking lot across
in which 61-year-old politi- from his rival’s office. The
cal veteran Ismael Garcia congressman’s staffers
is mostly focused on help- park their cars among stray
ing voters identify him cor- dogs and rusty pickups
rectly when they go to the there every day, but only
polls. Opposition leaders realized this past week that
say the race in Maracay their opponent was the
is just the most brazen ex- heavyset young man with
ample of a trick the social- spiky gelled hair they see
ist party, which has never on their way out.
lost a national election, is In his first public comments,
using in its effort to keep the younger candidate
control of the National As- told The Associated Press
sembly despite dismal ap- that he can’t help it if the
proval ratings. With the other Ismael Garcia — or
world’s highest inflation, as he called his opponent,
second-highest homicide “the old Ismael” — feels
rate, and a deepening re- threatened. “Everyone has
cession, just 10 percent of a right to participate,” he
voters say they are happy said. “I can’t change my
with how things are going. name.” While Venezuela’s
Polling suggests the oppo- political system turns on
sition could win control of two poles — socialism and
the 165-seat congress by a the opposition — it also
landslide. supports more than 100
“It shows how crazy and smaller parties that rarely
desperate the govern- run their own candidates,
ment has become. They and instead tend to nego-
have fake candidates pos- tiate agreements with one
ing as the opposition in al- of the two camps.q
