September 01

Spanish People's Party to watch Venezuelan parliamentary vote
The People's Party (PP), the main opposition party in Spain, will participate as an international observer in the parliamentary election to be held in Venezuela on September 26, a PP spokesman reported.

Jorge Moragas, the coordinator of International Relations of the Spanish People's Party, told Spanish radio station Cadena Cope that PP lawmakers are visiting Venezuela at the request of the Venezuelan opposition parties, Europa Press reported.

Moragas said that the presence of PP legislators will ensure a "real alternative" to Hugo Chávez's government in the presidential vote to be held in 2012.

"We want (Venezuelan President Hugo) Chávez to leave office in a democratic and peaceful process," Moragas said.

He added that the death of Franklin Brito, a Venezuelan farmer, is just the "tip of the iceberg" formed by a group of Venezuelans and Spaniards whose estates have been expropriated by Chávez.

Chávez to radicalize the revolution after parliamentary vote
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez said on August 31 that he would radicalize his Bolivarian revolution in his way "towards socialism," following a possible victory of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), in September parliamentary vote.

"Our game is to radicalize the revolution. We will win on September 26 and we will further deepen and radicalize the revolution in our way towards socialism," Chávez said during a rally in Maracay, state of Aragua.

The Venezuelan president said that dissenting parties want to have deputies in the National Assembly to destabilize the government and stage a coup d'état "such as in Honduras."

Chávez voiced confidence that the PSUV would win more than two thirds of the 165 seats in the National Assembly, but he warned his candidates not to feel unbeatable.

September 02

Electoral official calls for analysis of Chávez's role in election campaign
Vicente Díaz, a director of the National Electoral Council (CNE), produced on September 2 what he termed evidence of alleged violations to the regulation of election campaign by top government officials, including Venezuela's President and Vice President. He said he would submit the evidence in the next meeting of the National Electoral Council's board for discussion.

During a press conference, Díaz showed several video footages, particularly a nationwide mandatory broadcast on all free-to-air TV and radio channels on August 28, during which Chávez ordered live broadcast of Vice President Elías Jaua, who was accompanied by candidates of the ruling party to the National Assembly.

Dissenters, government followers and swing voters at similar level ahead of parliamentary voting
According to a national survey conducted in August by pollster Alfredo Keller & Asociados, ahead of September 26 parliamentary elections, the Venezuelan electoral population is divided into three sectors.

Based on the poll, 30 percent of respondents said they are supporters of President Hugo Chávez, 37 percent are floating voters and 33 percent are opposed to President Chávez.

The study conducted across the country showed that the most cherished values are decentralization and a civilian government.

According to the poll, "most people support a civilian leadership (77 percent) and a decentralized administration (71 percent) versus a military leadership (16 percent) and a centralized government (22 percent).

Further, the survey showed that 48 percent of undecided voters would support dissenting candidates, while 30 percent would support the ruling party's candidates.

Poll: 77 percent of Venezuelans are willing to vote in parliament election
According to the third quarter's public opinion survey conducted by pollster Alfredo Keller & Asociados, 30 percent of Venezuelan voters define themselves as followers of President Hugo Chávez; 37 percent as swing voters and 33 percent as anti-Chávez.

The survey reported that 22 percent out of the 1,200 nationwide respondents defined themselves as "very pro-Chávez", whereas 24 percent said they are "very anti-Chávez." The remaining 44 percent was "somewhat a follower of President Chávez, neutral or somewhat anti-Chávez."

The public opinion poll reported that 77 percent of Venezuelan voters will certainly take part in the parliamentary election to be held on September 26. According to the projection of the pollster about intent to vote a candidate (among voters who are sure to go to the polls), 43 percent would vote the ruling party, whereas 57 percent would vote opposition parties.

According to the survey, the issue of most concern for the Venezuelan people is crime followed by unemployment. High cost of living comes next. Other problems include housing, lack of access to public services, discord, health and education.

Crime also appears to be the main problem in the area where respondents live, followed by the lack of water and garbage.

The poll was conducted in 67 cities and towns with more than 20,000 inhabitants.