Weekly Report - 20 December 2012 (WR-12-50)

Venezuela’s beleaguered opposition received a pummelling at the polls on 16 December. The ruling Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV) swept 20 of the country’s 23 states in regional elections, the best possible palliative for President Hugo Chávez as he convalesces in Cuba. The only crumb of comfort for the opposition was the victory of Henrique Capriles Radonski in the battle of the heavyweights in Miranda against former vice-president, Elías Jaua. Defeat for incumbent governor Pablo Pérez in the largest state of Zulia means that Capriles is the only candidate with the credibility to stand in presidential elections if Chávez is unable to go on.

End of preview - This article contains approximately 1690 words.

Subscribers: Log in now to read the full article

Not a Subscriber?

Choose from one of the following options

• Subscribe
• Sign up for a one-time, 14-day trial