Excerpts of column Runrunes (Rumors), released on September 19

High

FOR HIS LIFE. The caudillo's confession, including tears, dispels any doubts about the health of he, who asks Venezuelans for additional six years to accomplish all that he has offered in 14 years in office, with all the State powers within his grasp, in addition to the oil money stocked for apportionment, without receipt or audit, among whoever he pleases in what used to be five presidential terms. "I cannot walk across the streets of San Fernando (the capital city of south-western Apure state). I cannot do it today or tomorrow. I beg God, if He continues being so generous with us, to make my last dream come true, which is to break free from all this. What difficult! Free again like the wind for some days, for some months, for some years. Free from all of this." Recent medical reports, following his exams here and there, show progression in the injury to the femur neck. Hence his pain and the fact that he "cannot walk." Add to this ailment, including the existential riddle, the delivery by the Military Intelligence Directorate (DIM) of a set of polls that give 3-5 percentage points above him to the young and seasoned ex-president of the Lower Chamber, ex-mayor of Baruta municipality and ex-governor of central Miranda state. His learning and works in the two elected offices, plus his democratic, all-inclusive mood in order not to fall into the provocations of the red saboteurs, have catapulted him to Miraflores. No purchase of conscience, or false accusations, or sabotage to his rallies in the province intimidates him (challenger Henrique Capriles Radonski). The saints have turned way from him (President Hugo Chávez). A silent avalanche of votes in red t-shirts is in the pollsters' reports. Collective tiredness increases day by day...

Intermediate

US DOLLARS. One of my informants at the Ministry of Finance let me know that shortage of US dollars in the Venezuelan market is because the governments of China, Russia and Belarus requested the payment of the debt owed to them for the works carried out in Venezuela, ranging from housing to trains. Besides, they requested an advance in cash of the commitments through January 2013. Top government authorities got annoyed at learning that both the Chinese and the Russians informed them that they had contacted the campaign team of opposition Unified Democratic Panel (MUD)...

CUBANS. All Cubans working for the Venezuelan government under Mission Barrio Adentro and other welfare programs, including public servants at registry and notary offices and "sports trainers," were ordered to withdraw to barracks. Likewise, a Russian Ilyushin 96 aircraft is allowed to land on Ramp 4 (the presidential ramp at the Maiquetía International Airport) next October 6...

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@nelsonbocaranda

Translated by Conchita Delgado