The Venezuelan opposition is certain to make gains in Sunday’s legislative elections but not enough to wrest legislative control from President Hugo Chavez in the 12th year of his socialist revolution.
President Raul Castro sacked his energy and resources minister, the last remaining minister from his brother Fidel cabinet. Minister for basic industry, Yadira Garcia, was fired late Sunday for shortcomings, specifically exerting weak control over resources set aside for investment and production, an official declaration read on state television said.
The Venezuelan opposition has called the electorate to vote “without fear” on next Sunday's elections, where some 17.7 million voters are eligible to cast their ballots to renew the 165 seats in the National Assembly.
Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez called on his followers to see next Sunday’s legislative election as a “battle” that needs to ensure the government’s majority in the National Assembly.
“We’re soldiers in battle…this is the final offensive”, said the Venezuelan leader.
After a lack of agreement in Chile over the extradition of ex guerrilla member Sergio Apablaza, Argentina President Cristina Fernández de Kirchner said that the meeting held with President Sebastián Piñera was an “excellent” one, during declarations made to seemingly minimize the situation.
The renowned Peruvian novelist Mario Vargas Llosa fears manipulation of the coming legislative elections in Venezuela, masterminded by President Hugo Chavez, whom together with other Latinamerican leaders he defines as “caudillos”.
Leaders of Venezuela's Jewish community met with President Hugo Chavez on Thursday to discuss their concerns about possible anti-Semitism in state media and to ask for the re-establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel.
Bolivarian governments preach Socialism and work for the dispossessed but also have serious shortcomings since they ignore basic democratic standards in freedom of the press, human rights, and citizenry participation according to Norbert Neuser, member of the European Parliament.
The government-owned Venezuelan airline involved in a fatal a plane crash Monday in which 16 people were killed has grounded all flights Friday for 14 days to perform a technical review of its fleet, the Conviasa airline announced.
With less than ten days to crucial legislative elections Venezuelan president Hugo Chavez took the oath to the “Guardians of Chavez” a group of women tasked with the mission of defending the Bolivarian revolution and the permanence of the populist leader in office.