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Capriles won’t accept presidential result until “every vote is recounted, one by one”

Monday, April 15th 2013 - 06:39 UTC
Full article 48 comments

Denouncing election irregularities, Venezuelan opposition candidate Henrique Capriles Radonski demanded a recount and said early Monday that he will not recognize the country's presidential results ”until every vote is counted”. His comments came less than an hour after officials said the man former Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez handpicked to be his successor had won the country's presidential vote. Read full article

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  • Anglotino

    “Irreversible” after such a quick count?

    I just love the version of democracy some countries run.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 07:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • willi1

    good luck for the queen of argentina who will get more money to pay her inflation rate of 25 %.
    the bolivarians have oil and so money enough to assist a poor queen and her gang.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 07:40 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Mendoza Canadian

    50.66%....something is rotten here...

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 10:53 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    It will be interesting to watch this “election” all fall apart.
    How many think civil unrest is right around the corner”
    I do!
    I do!

    Bus driver...oh for pete's sake these people are dumb

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 11:16 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    Capriles is just a wrecker, Maduro won, the Venezuelan electoral system is the fairest in the world according to the Carter Centre, and if he was a mature candidate Capriles should be glad to have won as many votes as he has, proof that Venezuelan democracy is robust and the government has nothing to hide. I predict once he establishes his own presence as a great leader and fighter, Maduro will have a much greater majority at the next election...

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 11:51 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Condorito

    It is the perfect result for Capriles.

    Maduro now has to preside over a crippled economy that can't afford to continue with Chavez's version of socialism. He has to do this with no clear mandate to run the country and a questionable electoral victory.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 12:03 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    6
    Capriles doesn't agree with you :)

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 12:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    It's better than the fabled 54% seen regularly in AR and elsewhere in SA last year. Even I am surprised that this does therefore seem a valid result.

    BSK

    You DF. The Carter Centre NEVER even visited Venezuela and did everything as a paper exercise and the other ‘Observer’ cleared it before the voting had even begun.

    FFS why don’t you do your homework?

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 12:49 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Chris

    http://www.cartercenter.org/news/publications/election_reports.html#venezuela

    Try again...

    ;)

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 12:55 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    I hope that bird tells him how to get the U$13B from CFK.

    Bang Bang those pots people
    Light those tires

    gross

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 01:08 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • JamesS

    with only a 1.6 percent win ! He's got his work cutout cursing all those who voted against him..

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 01:29 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Capriles can't see the forest through the trees. Chubby mismanaged the country so massively, the venezuela is a a clogged toilet. Maduro is holding the plunger and the pressure is building. Maybe 18 months before the shit hit's Maduro's face.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 01:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MarkWhelan

    #8 Chris R This is from the Carter Center Press release page, http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/index.html
    “At the invitation of Venezuela's National Election Council, The Carter Center will send a small delegation to accompany the Venezuelan people during the April 14 presidential election.
    The delegation includes former Panamanian President Martín Torrijos; former Colombian Governor Horacio Serpa; former Costa Rican Ombudsman Rodrigo Alberto Carazo; Carter Center Americas Program Director Jennifer McCoy; Carter Center representative in Venezuela Héctor Vanolli, and Carter Center Associate Director of the Americas Program Marcelo Varela.”

    Are you saying that “The Carter Center” is lying about their activities?
    What proof do you have to backup your claim :as quoted below:
    “You DF. The Carter Centre NEVER even visited Venezuela and did everything as a paper exercise and the other ‘Observer’ cleared it before the voting had even begun.”?

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 02:07 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • MagnusMaster

    How pathetic Maduro must be to having to win through fraud despite being “son of Chavez”. Capriles should start waiting for the inevitable...

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 03:20 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • agent999

    The Carter Centre sent a small, but not unbiased delegation, they were not sent in a role to strictly observe the election.

    Director Jennifer McCoy is not impartial when it comes to her views on Venezuela.

    There was no chance of the elections in Venezuela being on an even playing field.

    http://www.americasquarterly.org/venezuela-timidity-and-sub-standard-election-observation

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 04:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Stevie / Mark Whelan

    April 8, 2013
    Carter Center To Send Delegation to April 14 Venezuelan Presidential Election (En español)
    “At the invitation of Venezuela's National Election Council, The Carter Center will send a small delegation to accompany the Venezuelan people during the April 14 presidential election.”

    Agreed.

    Now, tell me what they were SUPPOSED to do, m(by accompanying the Venezuelan people?

    AND

    WHAT they actually did. Hold hands? Got drunk?

    I will await the final report before jumping to any conclusion.

    Please re-read the second sentence of my post @8.

    Did either of you read this:

    April 4, 2013
    The Carter Center Finds Kenya Election Results Reflect Will of Voters
    The Carter Center finds that in spite of serious shortcomings in the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission's (IEBC) management of technology and tabulation of final election results, the paper-based procedure for counting and tallying presented enough guarantees to preserve the expression of the will of Kenyan voters.

    That’s a stunning conclusion when considered against the statement in the first part of the paragraph.

    No wonder the original President and his supporters were pissed off. But unlike the bus driver who I firmly believe will result to violence if he is chucked out, the ousted Kenyan candidate decided for the peace of the nation to accept the count.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 04:14 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Gordo1

    Capriles should accept this result and just wait for the “s--t to hit the fan” - in less than a year the electorate will be demanding a change.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 05:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Chris
    I wasn't referring to your “second sentance”, it was a direct response to your

    “You DF. The Carter Centre NEVER even visited Venezuela and did everything as a paper exercise and the other ‘Observer’ cleared it before the voting had even begun.”

    And no Chris, I didn't read about Kenya, I was talking about Venezuela...

    Have you been talking about Kenya all along?

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 05:11 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Chris, Stevie is right, everyone knows this win is legitimate. How could a whole country put something over on 3 observers?
    I find it highly unlikely.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 06:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    19 yankeeboy

    I have been reading about The Carter Centre for some time now for another reason and frankly, they 'Talk the Talk' but I have yet to see them 'Walk the Walk'.

    Well intentioned as they are they are far short of anything a reasonable person would see as effectively monitoring elections.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 08:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • agent999

    Chris you should try reading the full report from their “study mission” on the 2012 elections. - it is a bit tedious and full of a lot of waffle.

    http://www.cartercenter.org/news/pr/venezuela-111512.html

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 09:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    “the Venezuelan electoral system is the fairest in the world according to the Carter Centre”

    I see this repeated a lot. Can anyone actually attribute this to an actual quote or conclusion.

    Or is it a meme? Repeat enough online and it becomes fact for simpletons.

    People need to learn the difference between electoral mechanisms that work such as holding the actual ballot and the entire electoral system including media access, intimidation, an independent judiciary and use of state resources by the incumbent.

    Venezuela may be a 'democracy' according to the first but no one could ever claim it is a 'democracy' according to the second.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 09:40 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Anglolatino
    You consider USA as a democracy?

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 09:46 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Jimmy Carter is a fool, he almost ruined the USA while he was Prez, created the problems we now have in Mid East and has made himself into the Great Apologizer. I won't miss him when he and Carter 2 are gone.
    It can't come soon enough for me.

    The only thing missing from that farce of an election was Sean Penn.

    I hear demonstrations are already starting.

    Where oh where is my burning tire?
    I must have left it in BA when I moved.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 09:52 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #24 I wish he was still President - he does have one term left to spend, doesn't he =)

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 11:02 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    The very fact that yanqui disagrees with Jimmy Carter speaks volumes about Carter. In his favour.

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 11:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    I will take Reagan over Carter any day. Thanks!
    Carter and Carter 2 are trying to make us into Argentina.
    Nobody wants that

    BTW I hear they found a truckload of votes..wonder what will come of this??

    Apr 15th, 2013 - 11:18 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    So I would have to assume that British_Kirchnerist's claim that “the Venezuelan electoral system is the fairest in the world according to the Carter Centre” is indeed a meme as no one has ever proven this quote on here or on The Economist website where it too is currently being repeated.

    @23 Stevie
    “You consider USA as a democracy?”

    That is a loaded question simply because you and I have radically different ideas on what constitutes a democracy. I guarantee that you don't see it as a democracy which speaks loads about your viewpoint.

    However, I will claim that my country's version of democracy is superior to the US version and all countries in Latin America - though Chile comes close, Venezuela is not even in the same league.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Captain Poppy

    Everyone's country on the site is superior, only few make that claim.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 01:14 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Fido Dido

    Capriles lost again, even in the US they don't even bother to mention the elections in Venezuela. They are to busy trying with gay marriage, who are behind the explosions in Boston (they know, and want more TSA and they want them in malls, all sport events and they want to take away the guns, not going to happen the last one..but the agenda is clear oh and don't pay attention to Cyprus which has become a blueprint for future “bailouts”).

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 03:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Anglotino

    I didn't see anything about gay marriage, explosions or Cyprus in the article.

    Gotta love deflection.

    @29 Captain Poppy

    Not sure of the point you are making here. I never said my country was superior, just our version of democracy.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 04:20 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ManRod

    according to the Capriles followers, some information leaks revealed a statistic by states with a win for Capriles of 53,5% vs Maduro 44,3%.

    https://fbcdn-sphotos-h-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash3/526657_328495370586883_177683672_n.jpg

    If this is correct, do we expect a civil war approaching?

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 09:57 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    32
    So the Capriles followers say Capiles won?
    What a surprise!! Who would've thought....

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 10:27 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • ChrisR

    Oh dear!

    The inverse is also true, have you not been following the bus drivers hysterical little bird bollocks? Who would have thought that?

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 10:41 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    A bird told me this will probably get out of hand.

    I have a friend traveling in Caracas right now and he posted on FB that the demonstrations are MASSIVE.

    Gee I wonder why since the elections were so fair?

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 11:36 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Yes, Capriles called his voters to the streets. How very undemocratic of Maduro...
    If Capriles tries something, it will end like it did in 2002. Or just another “intervention”...

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:05 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Hmm, A while ago all the RGs said tire burning, masked protesters with weapons and projectiles is a the sign of a well organized democracy.

    So which is it?

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:10 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    No yanqui, school massacres is a sign of a well organised democracy.

    Regardless of how it is, it's not for you to call.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:25 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    Oh OK. Somehow I missed where you can tell me what I can and can't post in a public forum.

    Idiot

    Sorry I thought people dying from lack of critical imported meds or in poorly maintained infrastructure was a sign of good governance.

    The funny thing is, and shows how stupid Alba nations are, they're still running trains WITH THE DOORS OPEN and PEOPLE HANGING ON in Argentina. Seriously how dumb are people there? Do they ever learn?

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:32 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    yanqui
    You can post all conspiracy theories you wish. Proof is, you do little else.

    You lot go and get fat in McDonalds instead of hanging on trains. Who are you to decide what people should do with their lives?
    And no, the Falklanders are Brits. They've just told the world so.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:36 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • yankeeboy

    So you are telling me the trains don't run with the doors open and people hanging out of them?
    Pretty sure they still do

    I seem to remember McDonalds as being a luxury treat, with kids dying to get a job in them when I lived in BA. When did it change?
    Psst it didn't

    I heard the new scam on the Subte is for someone to pretend to throw up and use some stinky fruit as the outcome do distract the riders while they are being robbed.
    That sounds about right.

    Apr 16th, 2013 - 12:45 pm - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Ernie4001

    Sad for Venezuela to throw away this chance to shake off all the leftist rubbish from the country, but I don´t think that this blend of pig with ape (Maduro) will be able to recognize the right to recount the votes. So, until now Venezuela has no legitimate president.

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 01:38 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Chilean perspective

    @5 British_Kirchnerist
    Don't be an idiot, you may be a devotee of corrupt socialism but the Venezuelan electoral system is rigged and everyone in Venezuela knows it. The ex director of the national electoral council Ana Mercedes Díaz has clearly explained how the fraud was perpetrated. For a start in the last 10 years the population has grown 14% but the electoral register has grown 58% and it has NEVER been audited, there are over 1.5 million voters who do not have fingerprints attached to their register as is required by law. These are probably deceased people or other fakes. In the election there were 9,000 voting centers where ONLY ONE voting table was present. Only voting for Maduro was possible (instead of two voting tables one for Capriles and one for Maduro there was only 1 and it was for Maduro) This means 20% of voting centers, totally outrageous! PLUS 540 voting centers weren't only not monitored BUT had NO access, NO ONE could enter, who the hell knows what shenanigans went on in there, not even the Maduro supporters could enter. In summing up the Cuban guy arrested by the police carrying 40 different ID's of himself sums it up just fine....... Finally even though it was a total farce it's in Chile's interest for this turd Maduro to win so CONGRATULATIONS BK.

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 08:43 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • British_Kirchnerist

    #42 ”this blend of pig with ape (Maduro)“

    And I wonder why some people think the opposition is snobbish and racist...

    #43 ”the population has grown 14% but the electoral register has grown 58%”

    Better voter registration = more healthy democracy. Probably why the US Republicans oppose it so much!

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 09:18 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    43
    A voting centre where nobody had access... You expect to convince people that they set up a voting centre only to deny access to the voters, and this with a hidden agenda?
    That is such a ridiculous statement, I don't even know why I bother responding to it...

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 09:48 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • The Chilean perspective

    Not A voting centre but 540 of them!

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 10:03 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Stevie

    Sure TCP, 540 of them...

    Hahahaha!!

    Apr 17th, 2013 - 10:07 am - Link - Report abuse 0
  • Brazilian

    If a president against the interests of the US wins he's a dictator, if a candidate that supports US interests loses it's fraud. It would be funny if it wasn't sad. For the people of the US, I have just one thing to say: FLORIDA

    Apr 18th, 2013 - 02:04 pm - Link - Report abuse 0

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