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BTL:After Opposition Parties Boycott Vote, Hugo Chavez Wins Total Control of... |
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by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus
Email: betweenthelines (nospam) snet.net (verified)
Address: BETWEEN THE LINES c/o WPKN Radio 89.5 FM Bridgeport, Connecticut |
16 Dec 2005
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...Venezuela's Parliament ~ Interview with Gregory Wilpert, sociologist and journalist living in Caracas, conducted by Between the Lines' Melinda Tuhus |
After Opposition Parties Boycott Vote, Hugo Chavez Wins Total Control of Venezuela's Parliament
Interview with Gregory Wilpert, sociologist and journalist living in Caracas, conducted by Melinda Tuhus
In another of a string of victories, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez has won an overwhelming victory in his nation's Dec. 4th legislative election. The president's Fifth Republic Movement won 114 out of 167 seats in the National Assembly, while allied parties won the balance. However, this electoral victory came after five major opposition parties boycotted the vote, resulting in only 25 percent participation by registered voters. The opposition parties, many of which supported the unsuccessful 2002 military coup against Chavez, complained that Venezuela's National Electoral Counsel favored government candidates, despite major changes made by the Counsel in response to opposition grievances.
President Chavez claimed the opposition's boycott of the election was prompted by polls showing they would have suffered an embarrassing defeat, a tactic he says that was backed by Washington to destabilize his government. Now, with commanding control of the legislature, Chavez will have a two-thirds majority in parliament that will allow him to change the constitution, including a current limit of two presidential terms in office.
Meanwhile, Venezuela is continuing its charm offensive by offering Caribbean nations and now, poor residents of Boston and New York, discounts on oil through its state-owned energy company, brand named Citgo in the U.S. Between The Lines' Scott Harris spoke with Gregory Wilpert, a sociologist and journalist living in Caracas, who examines Venezuela's recent legislative election.
Read Gregory Wilpert's articles online at www.venezuelaanalysis.com
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