Excerpts of column "Runrunes" (Rumors) released on June 19

High

THE STREAM. In the middle of several crises inside the government, namely: lower international reserves; sinking oil prices; an opposition presidential candidate going ahead; booming crime; galloping inflation and glaring evidence of more than 86% of unfulfilled promises, the atmosphere in the red, very red bureaucracy is not that great. They bet on violence and resort to fear and threats. Rumor has it that the reappearance of (former Metropolitan Mayor) Juan Barreto last week in a meeting with armed collectives is on that way, as commissioned from the upper level. On the assumption that "the election has been won already," government authorities are against holding talks with anybody reluctant to affirm that "October results will be observed." They include, just to name four of the government-party-public funds-treasury-finance scheme, Minister of the Interior and Justice Tarek El Aissami; Minister of Communication and Information Andrés "Rizarrita" Izarra; Francisco Ameliach, the key man in the organization of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) apropos the election campaign, and Barinas state governor Adán Chávez, always ready to replace his brother. They do not uphold any rapprochement with Colombia, the United States, the private sector, the opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD) and even foreign observers, formerly regarded as friends, such as the Carter Center. Paradoxically, while all this happens at the top level, where Vice-president Elías Jaua and Congress Speaker Diosdado Cabello have met with different sectors, on the government middle level, information leaked to opponents would not stop. Inside the National Assembly (AN) many red deputies leak papers on poor governance in ministries, autonomous institutes, state governments in red hands and the oil industry. Little by little, information has been disclosed about missing loans; funding of communal councils turned into the wealth of foremen of the red party and an overwhelming, sweeping bureaucracy wearing in red just to look like.

Intermediate

STATE AFFAIR? Only the coarsest irresponsibility can explain the attitude of President Hugo Chávez's government concerning the domestic and foreign oil situation. On the one hand, plunged prices, near 30% lower than the cost of the barrel ending last year. On the  other hand, Saudi Arabia leading the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) as it pleases and increasing its output to record numbers. The failure of our delegation, chaired by the almighty, Boli-bourgeois Minister (of Petroleum and Mining) Rafael Ramírez, was outrageous: plain demagogy and loose speeches quoted only by state-run news agency Agencia Venezolana de Noticias (AVN). Finally, the United States are pushing up their production under the scheme of national security and Europe leading a cooled-down global economy. We have been told that foreign analysts estimate Venezuela's actual oil output at 2,400,000 barrels per day, at the most. Out of which, 700,000 bpd will be collected in cash. Precisely those aimed at the United States.

IN GOOD SHAPE. The Commander's training for his enrollment at presidential candidate was so "good" that it lasted five days. Hence his two speeches in obligatory simultaneous broadcast.

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@nelsonbocaranda

Translated by Conchita Delgado