Eight military men, two civilians are Chávez's bet for regional elections

Chavezism has already chosen 10 out of the 24 nominations for the governors and mayors elections to be held on December 16. President Hugo Chávez's selection includes 10 close allies: eight military men and two civilians.

Among those who belonged to the National Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB), there are three incumbent governors seeking reelection: retired Army General-in-Chief Jorge García Caneiro in Vargas state; retired Lieutenant Rafael Isea in Aragua state and retired Army General Francisco Rangel Gómez in Bolívar state. If Gómez wins these elections, he will hold his third consecutive term in office.

At the moment, the rest of the retired military men that will try to win governors' offices are: retired Aviation Lieutenant Colonel Luis Reyes Reyes in Lara state; incumbent Speaker of the National Assembly and retired Army Lieutenant Diosdado Cabello in Monagas state; retired Army General-in-Chief Carlos Mata Figueroa in Nueva Esparta state; retired Lieutenant Colonel Francisco Arias Cárdenas in Zulia state; and retired Army Major Francisco Ameliach, who is replacing Foreign Minister Nicolás Maduro as candidate to Carabobo state governor's office. Both Mata Figueroa and Arias Cárdenas have been given the green light to engage in electioneering.

The two civilian candidates are Vice-President Elías Jaua in Miranda state and Minister of the Interior and Justice Tareck El Aissami in Táchira state. Except for those governors already designated by Chávez to seek reelection, the remaining incumbent pro-Chávez governors will be nominated for reelection based on the results achieved by their electoral machines in the October 7 presidential vote.

Translated by Karina Salas