VENEZUELA: Opposition leader Henrique Capriles calls on his supporters to vote in December 8 local elections

Record ID: 567047

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Opposition leader Henrique Capriles calls on his supporters to vote in December 8 local elections
  • Date: 23rd November 2013
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (NOVEMBER 23, 2013) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF OPPOSITION PROTESTERS GATHERED TO DEMONSTRATE AGAINST PRESIDENT NICOLAS MADURO CAPRILES GREETING SUPPORTERS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER AND GOVERNOR OF MIRANDA, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING: "This could get worse my brothers and sisters, and we cannot stand here with our arms crossed. We have an opportunity in 15 days. If we were not so convinced of that opportunity, we would not be here nor would we be scalping ourselves for Venezuela. I want to ask all of you, from my heart - we have to win the elections on December 8." VARIOUS OF SUPPORTERS WITH SIGNS AND BANGING POTS AND PANS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER AND GOVERNOR OF MIRANDA, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING: "Do not have any doubt, companero (referring to Nicolas Maduro) that after December 8, constitution in hand, we are going after you and your broken and corrupt government." OPPOSITION SUPPORTERS SHOUTING ANTI-GOVERNMENT SLOGANS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) OPPOSITION LEADER AND GOVERNOR OF MIRANDA, HENRIQUE CAPRILES, SAYING: "Why are they going against our coordinator (referring to Capriles campaign coordinator, Alejandro Silva)? What do they want? Do they want me? Maduro, don't be a coward. Come on, companero. I dare you." CROWD SINGING VENEZUELAN NATIONAL ANTHEM CAPRILES LEAVING
  • Embargoed: 8th December 2013 12:00
  • Keywords:
  • Location: Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of
  • Country: Venezuela
  • Topics: Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVAB5UDADSX6S2DOA7OIA13HOJKO
  • Story Text: Tens of thousands of opposition supporters marched in Venezuela on Saturday (November 23) to pressure President Nicolas Maduro's government before Dec. 8 local elections after their leader denounced the pre-dawn arrest of an aide.
    The vote for control of 335 municipalities will be the first big test of Maduro's political strength after he narrowly defeated his opposition rival, Henrique Capriles, to win a presidential election in April.
    Capriles rallied his supporters in the capital.

    "This could get worse my brothers and sisters, and we cannot stand here without arms crossed. We have an opportunity in 15 days. If we were not so convinced of that opportunity, we would not be here nor would we be scalping ourselves for Venezuela. I want to ask all of you, from my heart - we have to win the elections on December 8," he said.
    He also had a warning for Maduro.

    "Do not have any doubt, companero (referring to Nicolas Maduro) that after December 8, constitution in hand, we are going after you and your broken and corrupt government," he said.
    Capriles told the main rally his national tours coordinator, Alejandro Silva, was taken at gunpoint from a Caracas hotel room by military intelligence agents and that he held Maduro responsible for the aide's safety.

    "Why are they going against our coordinator (referring to Capriles campaign coordinator, Alejandro Silva)? What do they want? Do they want me? Maduro, don't be a coward. Come on, companero. I dare you," Capriles said to cheers from a crowd of 2,000 to 3,000 supporters, many wearing the blue, yellow and red of the Venezuelan flag.
    With voters frustrated over surging inflation and product shortages, a major part of the government's strategy has been a theatrical confrontation with business leaders that echoes the style of Maduro's late mentor, Hugo Chavez.
    The authorities have ordered businesses to slash prices and people have flooded shops to take advantage of discounted items ranging from car parts to electronics and sports shoes.
    Many in the opposition were angered further last week when the "Chavista"-dominated National Assembly granted Maduro decree powers which he has vowed to use first to cap retailers' profits and reorganize the distribution of foreign currency.
    On Friday, the president said he had ordered the arrest of two unnamed opposition officials whom he accused of trying to pay individuals to disguise themselves as government supporters and attack Saturday's opposition rallies, with the goal of blaming his administration for any bloodshed.
    There was no official comment on the fate of the opposition leader's aide, but a senior government minister, Andres Izarra, tweeted that "one of Capriles' fascist henchmen" had been detained.
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