VENEZUELA: Country prepares for legislative elections which will test President Hugo Chavez's popularity

Record ID: 805397

  • Title: VENEZUELA: Country prepares for legislative elections which will test President Hugo Chavez's popularity
  • Date: 25th September 2010
  • Summary: CARACAS, VENEZUELA (SEPTEMBER 24, 2010) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE) BUILDING VARIOUS OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE), TIBISAY LUCENA JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) PRESIDENT OF THE NATIONAL ELECTORAL COUNCIL (CNE), TIBISAY LUCENA, SAYING: "The polling workers are installing the [election] booths throughout the country and we are already at about 60 percent." JOURNALISTS (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) DEFENCE MINISTER, CARLOS MATA FIGUEROA, SAYING: "The National Bolivarian Armed Forces and all its men and women guarantee the voting process. The people can rest assured that we will be there providing the security they deserve. We will act strongly against anyone who attempts to violate the laws and regulations always in accordance with the constitution." VARIOUS OF SOLDIERS AT A POLLING PLACE A VOTING MACHINE BEING CARRIED BY A SOLDIER POLL WORKERS AT POLLING PLACE POLL WORKER DEMONSTRATING HOW TO USE ELECTION MATERIALS CNE LOGO (SOUNDBITE) (Spanish) POLL WORKER, SUSANA LOPEZ, SAYING: "We check all the material contained in the box with our co-workers and certify the electoral materials in addition to the functioning of the [voting] machines." VARIOUS OF POLL WORKERS SIGNING AND STAMPING ELECTION MATERIALS
  • Embargoed: 10th October 2010 13:00
  • Keywords:
  • Topics: Domestic Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA72RYKMX6YTEPJDCJH792ANMLZ
  • Story Text: Venezuela makes final preparations for Sunday's legislative elections; Chavez says security measures in place to prevent fraud.
    Voting machines and election materials continued to make their way to polling places throughout Venezuela on Friday (September 24) as the South American nation preps for a legislative showdown on Sunday (September 26) that will seat the country's 165 member National Assembly.
    The decisive election pits President Hugo Chavez and his Socialist Unity Party of Venezuela against a wide ranging opposition that has come together under the common Democratic Unity umbrella as they return to parliament after boycotting the last election in 2005.
    The government has sent out an army of soldiers, known as the Plan Republica, polling workers, National Electoral Council representatives and international observers to "guarantee" a safe and transparent election.
    The president of the National Electoral Council, or CNE, Tibisay Lucena, said election materials and voting machines had been distributed and were being installed throughout the Andean nation.
    "The polling workers are installing the [election] booths throughout the country and we are already at about 60 percent," Lucena said.
    Plan Republica soldiers have been delivering voting machines and election materials since Wednesday (September 22) while others stand guard as poll workers make the final preparations
    "The National Bolivarian Armed Forces and all its men and women guarantee the voting process. The people can rest assured that we will be there providing the security they deserve. We will act strongly against anyone who attempts to violate the laws and regulations always in accordance with the constitution," Defense Minster, Carlos Mata Figueroa said.
    Election officials were preparing for a high turnout of around 70 percent of the oil producer's nearly 18 million registered voters as poll workers prepped the modern computerized voting machines that most observers count as reliable though some detractors have called fraud in past elections.
    "We check all the material contained in the box with our co-workers and certify the electoral materials in addition to the functioning of the [voting] machines," poll worker, Susana Lopez said.
    Chavez, who has positioned himself in the centre of the election though he himself is not up for re-election, has said it is crucial his Socialist Party maintain at least a two-thirds majority, 110 of 165 seats, in order to continue unimpeded with his socialist "revolution".
    The opposition is hoping to make significant gains after giving Chavez a virtual monopoly in the assembly when they boycotted the elections 5 years ago citing concerns about an election they were set to lose.
    Chavez has gone to lengths to try and downplay any calls of foul play before voters even cast their ballots.
    "I hope we all trust in our institutions unlike five years ago when the opposition pulled out. You all remember trying to sabotage elections and stirring up violence. I hope no one falls into this. Let's all respect the country, respect the people, the citizens, tomorrow is Saturday, we will respect all the laws. Starting early Sunday everyone will vote throughout the day. Let's beg that it does not rain at the closing hours, because we are in the middle of winter and we are hoping to have the results by night fall. We all know this is shielded. Here only someone irresponsible could say there was fraud," Chavez said.
    Some fear delays or confusion over tallying the results given a complicated two-sheet ballot and the fact that some candidates will be elected directly while others will be chosen by parties.
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