VENEZUELA: Comedian Benjamin Rausseo signs in as candidate in upcoming Venezuelan elections

Record ID: 575158

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Comedian Benjamin Rausseo signs in as candidate in upcoming Venezuelan elections
  • Date: 24th August 2006
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (AUGUST 23, 2006) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF COMEDIAN BENJAMIN RAUSSEO WALKING WITH FOLLOWERS TO THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL BOARD (CNE) VARIOUS OF RAUSSEO'S FOLLOWERS PLAYING INSTRUMENTS AND CELEBRATING VARIOUS OF RAUSSEO WALKING WITH FOLLOWERS TO THE CNE RAUSSEO ENTERING THE CNE (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COMEDIAN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BENJAMIN RAUSSEO SAYING: "We are going to start opening volunteer positions on the campaign because we don't have a party and we don't have resources but we do have the a strong desire to travel around Venezuela so that the candidate that goes up against Hugo Chavez has all the magic of the people who want change." PHOTOGRAPHERS TAKING PICTURES (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) COMEDIAN AND PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE BENJAMIN RAUSSEO SAYING: "People can see me the way they want, but I present myself as a good person. We want peace, happiness, security and food- a lot of food for everyone." RAUSSEO ENTERING TO THE ROOM TO SIGN UP FOR CANDIDACY MEDIA AT THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL CANDIDATE GREETING OFFICIALS OF THE CNE VARIOUS OF OFFICIALS GIVING RAUSSEO DOCUMENT FOR INSCRIPTION AND RAUSSEO SHOWING IT TO THE MEDIA MEDIA TAKING PICTURES AND VIDEO
  • Embargoed: 8th September 2006 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Entertainment
  • Reuters ID: LVA5VOQ4MP92LQB1PC61WFGPSCM3
  • Story Text: Comedian and television personality Benjamin Rausseo made his candidacy for the presidency of Venezuela official in Caracas on Wednesday (August 23). The comedian also known as 'El Conde del Guacharo' made good on a promise he made in July on a local television station to run for the presidency by making his candidacy official at the National Electoral Board (CNE).
    Although known as one of Venezuela's most popular stand-up comics, Rausseo's comments on his pending run for president took on a more serious tone.
    "We are going to start opening volunteer positions on the campaign because we don't have a party and we don't have resources but we do have the a strong desire to travel around Venezuela so that the candidate that goes up against Hugo Chavez has all the magic of the people who want change," Rausseo said in Caracas.
    'El Conde', or 'The Count', who earned his nickname from his popular comic television character, has been critical of Chavez and hopes to form a coherent resistance to the Chavez government.
    Rausseo grew up in poverty in rural Venezuela and moved to Caracas with his brothers after being orphaned at the age of fourteen. In comments made to the media in Caracas on Wednesday, he expressed his solidarity with Venezuela's poor.
    "People can see me the way they want, but I present myself as a good person. We want peace, happiness, security and food- a lot of food for everyone," he said.
    Rausseo, the owner of a theme park that pokes fun at places like Disney World, has been highly critical of the Chavez administration. He has called for repairs of relationships with other Latin American nations that have suffered from during Chavez's rule.
    Elections in Venezuela will be held at the beginning of December to elect a president for another 6 year term. Chavez was elected in 1998 and then again in 2000 and is expected to be re-elected in December. ENDS.
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