"The Government is not unbeatable"

The executive secretary of the Venezuelan opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD), Ramón Guillermo Aveledo has informed through a video chat with users of daily newspaper EL Universal's website that the statements made by some Government officials regarding the possible victory of their presidential candidate and rejection of the results by opposition leaders were unfounded.

"The Venezuelan Government is not unbeatable; it never was and it won't be now (...) It is true they have lots of things in favor in this electoral campaign, but they have lost support in the streets; they have run out of topics and items on the agenda."

Regarding the election simulation to be conducted on August 26, the opposition leader said results were not going to be released. "The process (The simulation) aims at testing the technological framework Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE) will rely on. We aim at evaluating the setting up and the status of our electoral machines, instead."

Aveledo went on and said "the vote is secret." We are confident about it and if we get suspicious about it, we will immediately lodge complaints.

Referring to the labor situation in the country, specifically to recent complaints made to Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez during a rally broadcasted nationwide where a union leader revealed that the contract of state-run iron and steel company had not been renewed in two years, Aveledo asserted that the Government has always "ignored" others, "avoided talks" and "confrontation."

On the contrary, the Government led by opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles Randonski would sit, talk and acknowledge trade unions no matter if they sympathize with the Government.

Translated by Jhean Cabrera