Ministry of People’s Power for Foreign Affairs
Bolivarian Government of Venezuela
Vol. 3: Issue 48, 13th December, 2017
Embassies of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela in the World
SPECIAL EDITION
Wi���n� y�� � M�r�� X-ma� & � H�p�� N�� Ye��
You have been true friends to Venezuela. Your love and support for us has gone a long way and is appreciated. In this season, may the ringing bells of Christmas fill your lives with music of happiness and prosperity and make way for a fresh and bright new year.
1) Merry X-mas & a Happy New Year
2) Municipal Elections: Third national election in 5 months-Dec10th, 2017
3) Asian countries show solidarity with Palestine, condemn Trump and Israel
4) France denies Russia's 'victory' claims in Syria:Moscow lays down the harsh burns
5) President Kenyatta 6) Tanzanians 7) Kenya marks its opened 3rd UN celebrates 56 years of 54th Independence Environment independence. Day Assembly
8) 70 years of the U.N. Universal Declaration on Human Rights
9) Chavismo Triumphant in the municipal Elections:
Municipal Elections: Third national election in 5 months-Dec10th, 2017
1. On October 10, 2017, the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela carried out its 24 election since 1998. It was the third national election in 2017, after the election of the members for the National Constituent Assembly carried out on July 30, 2017 and the regional elections that took place on October 15, 2017.
2. The atmosphere this past Sunday, once again was filled with joy, peace, and tranquility in the streets and in every corner in Venezuela. After two overwhelmingvictories for the Bolivarian forces, for the third time in 2017, the Venezuelan people went out to vote despite the international siege by the United States, a group of countries from the Organization of American States (OAS) and the European Union.
Facts - 335 mayor and 1 governor were elected - 9,139,564 citizens participated (according to 97.02% of the voting acts) - The Bolivarian forces won 21 of the 23 state capitals, while the opposition earned 2 - The Bolivarian forces won in 308 municipalities, the opposition in 25, and 2 others. - The Chavista victory amounts to 92% of the municipalities, while 7% belong to the opposition and 1% to the rest. - If the December 10 elections were to be considered a single national election, the Bolivarian forces would have won 70% and opposition forces would have won 29% of the total vote. - This the 24 election in Venezuela since 1998. - Voter turnout reached 47.32% (above average).
Results 3. The National Electoral Council offered this Sunday, October 15, 2017, the first bulletin with the results of 97.02% of
the voting acts counted, which reflected the participation of 9,139,564 citizens that exercised their right to vote. This represents 47.32% of the electoral registry.
4. During the municipal elections of 2000 (23.8%), 2005 (30.82%), 2008 (60.2%) y 2013 (58.92%), the average participa-
tion reached 43.43%. The result obtained this Sunday, show a slight rise in the average participation for this type of elections. This shows that the Venezuelan people, far from suffering fatigue because of three electoral processes in five months, has reaffirmed its democratic conviction and has set out decisively to solve its political differences at the polls and by strongly condemning violence.
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5. The results show an overwhelming victory of the Bolivarian forces, winning in 308 municipalities while the opposition
won 25 and others obtained 2. On a nationwide vote count, the Bolivarian forces won 70% of he votes, while the opposition took 29%. This translates to a difference of 41% between both forces.
6. The Bolivarian forces obtained a victory in the race for governor for Zulia the State with the larges population, the municipality of Libertador in the Capital District with 66.17% (first woman elected mayor) and twenty-one out of 23 state capitals, while the opposition won 2 of the 23 state capitals.
7. Out of the 21 capitals won in the 23 states, the Bolivarian forces obtained victories with over 60% of the vote in 17 of them. Out of those 17 victories, 9 municipalities surpassed 70% of the vote of the Bolivarian forces.
Number of Municipalities Bolivarian Forces 308 Opposition 25 Others 2
Conclusions 8. The Chavista victory amounts to 92% of the municipalities, while the opposition obtained 7% and others 1%. With this
new result, the Bolivarian forces are still the most important political force in Venezuela and has now obtained the largest victory any political force has ever accomplished in its republican history.
9. The results obtained by the Venezuela opposition are due to the historical internal division among its leaders. This is an aspect that the media wants to hide and the government aligned with the opposition wish to ignore. This division was deepened after 4 months where violence was used as a political weapon and the results of the governor races. These results were adverted by pollsters not considered government sympathizers.
10. Despite the fact that Venezuela is now one of the topics of great interests for the media, as well as regional leaders
and political analysts, it is unfortunate that we have observed how the media corporations have tried to cast shadow over this great victory for the Venezuela people who, placing their confidence over its democratic model, the stability of its institutions, and with a profound pacifism, came out to defend its vote.
11. Despite the fact that violence has not left the agenda of a sector of the Venezuelan opposition as well as foreign actors, the great people of Venezuela sent a new message committed to democracy and peace. Once again, we showed that the problems amongst Venezuelans, are to be sold amongst Venezuelans and through the polls.
www.telesurtv.net www.avn.info.ve
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Asian countries show solidarity with Palestine, condemn Trump and Israel "Respect international law. What you (Trump) are doing is against international law, what you are doing is against humanity. Stop oppressing the Palestinians." Expressing concern over the "potential flare-up of regional tensions," China has shown support for Palestine's capital, East Jerusalem. "China firmly supports and advances the Middle East peace process. We support the just cause of the Palestinian people to restore their legitimate national rights and stand behind PalesProtesters burn an effigy depicting US President Donald Trump during an anti-US and Israel tine in building an independent, full sovereignty state along the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital. We call on all parties to remain committed to Indonesia, home to world's largest Muslim population, resolving disputes through negotiations and promoting regional also condemned Trump for his illegitimate remarks. peace and stability in accordance with the relevant UN Trump's recent decision to declare Jerusalem as Israel's resolutions," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson, Geng capital has united people fighting for the rights of Palestinians Shuang, said in a statement. world over, spurring protests in countries, Malaysia, Indonesia, India, for the most part, has not made a statement on the Bangladesh, Pakistan, and China who have all joined in the damning statement by the U.S. president. Motivated by selfcondemnation. interest, South Asian country's right-wing led anti-Muslim Bangladesh's Prime Minister, Sheikh Hasina, has also government has maintained a neutral stance. slammed Trump. "Trump’s decision is arbitrary and it will "India's position on Palestine is independent and destabilize harmony among different communities across the consistent. It is shaped by our views and interests, and not world,” Hasina said in a statement, according to the Dailystar. determined by any third country," Raveesh Kumar, spokesman of "There is a UN resolution and in accordance with the resolution India's Ministry of External Affairs, said last week. In July, the no one can make such announcement and can accept the right-wing Indian Prime Minister, Narendra Modi visited Israel announcement disregarding it." Bangladesh's foreign ministry and in doing so became the first Indian prime minister to do so in asserted its stance favoring the establishment of the state of the recent times. Palestine based on the 1967 borders with East Jerusalem as its capital.
Parallel to the visit, both India and Israel signed agreements to bid jointly for defense contracts for the Indian military and strengthen the Indian social program of "Make in India" launched in 2014 to promote local manufacturing of goods.
Indonesia, home to world's largest Muslim population, also condemned Trump for his illegitimate remarks. Indonesian President Joko “Jokowi” Widod rebuked Trump in a televised speech adding the decision is bound to "shake up security in the Middle East and the world." "Indonesia strongly condemns the United States’ formal recognition of Jerusalem as the capital of Israel," Jokowi said in his address. "We ask President Trump to reconsider the decision."
Turkey's President Tayyip Erdogan calls Israel a 'child-murderer' state
"Jerusalem is the apple of our eye. We will not abandon it to the child-murderer state. We will not abandon it to an occupier state," President Erdogan said in an address in the Turkish city of Sivas. "We will continue our struggle within law and democracy. In Istanbul we will unite Islamic countries, leaders and heads of states. Our road map will show that it will not be easy for them to realize their plans," President Erdogan said. He also said President Trump's Jerusalem announcement was "null and void."
Youth from the United Malays National Organisation, Umno along with its chief Khairy Jamaluddin, handed over a memorandum at the U.S. embassy in the Malaysian capital, Kuala Lumpur. Jamaluddin said the decision was illegal and unacceptable. "Mr President, this is an illegal announcement. Jerusalem is an occupied territory. You must not even set foot in Jerusalem and make it the capital of israel... believe me, this is just the beginning," he said.
www.telesurtv.net The views and opinions expressed in these articles are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
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France denies Russia's 'victory' claims in Syria:- Moscow lays down the harsh burns The top diplomats of France and Russia have been engaged in a rare row regarding the claiming of credit in the fight against the Islamic State group in Syria, as well as the roles played by the two countries in the ongoing military conflicts in the Middle Eastern and North African region. Accusing Russia of hyping up its campaign against the Islamist extremists in Syria, French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian claimed in an interview with French news outlet BFM TV that the Russian military was claiming undue credit for the defeat of the group – a victory the Russians “arrogated,” according to the top diplomat – when, in fact, the “international coalition” under U.S. leadership had been responsible for driving the group out of Syria. The foreign minister also chided Russia's military for belatedly joining regional allies such as the Syrian Arab Army and Hezbollah in the battle to liberate Deir Ezzor.
Jean-Yves Le Drian French Foreign Minister
Maria Zakharova Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman
This most recent war of words followed consecutive announcements by Russian President Vladimir Putin and the head of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, Valery Gerasimov, who both claimed that the Islamic State group had faced a “complete rout” on the eastern and western banks of the Euphrates River – a claim quickly denied by the U.S.-led “coalition” heads in the Pentagon. "The U.S.-led coalition, not the Russian Federation or Syrian Regime, is the only force that has made meaningful progress against (the Islamic State group). Those claims are incorrect," a Pentagon spokesperson told Russian outlet Sputnik. The head of the U.S.-led Combined Joint Task Force – Operation Inherent Resolve's press office also claimed that the militants have “yet to be cleared from that area” surrounding the Euphrates.
Russian Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Maria Zakharova – in one of her characteristically acidic Facebook status updates – mocked the French foreign minister with a reminder of the Western allies' dismal recent record of military adventures in the Arab world. "The Western partners have been saying in the recent days that it was not Russia but them, the coalition, who defeated Islamic State in Syria. The last to say this was French Foreign Minister Mr. Le Drian," she wrote on her Facebook profile.
Russia's military mission in Syria in 2015 began at the official request of Damascus during the height of the civil war and turned the tide of the conflict against rebel groups fighting to oust the Syrian government of President Bashar al-Assad, a longtime Moscow ally. Iran, Russia and Turkey have coordinated activities to act as a guarantor of peace talks in Syria which have taken place in Astana, Kazakhstan. The three countries have established de-escalation zones across the war-stricken country to mitigate violence and gradually end fighting on the ground.
“Our (diplomatic) properties were seized in the United States, the medals we won in the Sochi Olympics were taken away, and now they've decided to capitalize on our military achievements?” "Dear Sirs, stop it! Your successes are Iraq, Libya and Afghanistan. Come on, be proud of them." The Russian Defense Ministry also chimed in, expressing “bewilderment” at Paris' most recent claims while noting that the defeat of the Islamic State group was a result of the combined actions of the Syrian government forces and its allies: "With support of the Russian Aerospace Force, the Syrian armed forces liberated from IS terrorists hundreds of settlements and returned under control of the legitimate leadership practically the entire territory of the country."
Western governments and nongovernmental organizations like the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights have alleged that Russian air strikes have killed dozens of civilians in recent air strikes, an allegation Moscow has denied. The Russian military, in turn, has accused the U.S. of resorting to indiscriminate “barbarian bombing” of populated civilian centers like Raqqa while allowing Islamic State group militants to operate "under its nose" with relative freedom as a buffer against Syrian government forces.
The ministry also wryly noted that over the course of more than three years of activity by the U.S.-led coalition, it only recently had managed to deliver its first blows against the Islamic State group in Syria in the form of the “mass bombing of Raqqa and its civilians.”
www.telesurtv.net www.dailynews24.online The views and opinions expressed in these articles are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
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President Kenyatta opened 3rd UN Environment Assembly
Kenya’s President Kenyatta officially opened the third United Nations Environment Assembly in Nairobi on the 5th of Dec where Kenya was praised for banning the manufacture and use of plastic packaging both at industrial and domestic levels. President Kenyatta opened the third UNEA with a call for commitment from all countries in the world to copy Kenya's example of banning the use of plastic bags. "My advice is that nations should not heed the skeptics, who say that all countries cannot protect our planet better by banning plastic carrier bags’’ said the President.
President. "I would also like to encourage other member states to consider raising their voluntary contributions to help United Nations Environment Programme discharge its mandate effectively.” The President of Guyana, David Granger, and the President of Trinidad and Tobago, Anthony Carmona, who spoke at the assembly praised Kenya for implementing the ban on plastic packaging. President Carmona said through the plastic ban Kenya has become the hope for humanity. "Nothing stops Kenya from becoming known as the hope of humanity just as it is known as the cradle of humanity.” He said he learnt with admiration that the ban on plastic bags in Kenya has resulted in renewed growth in paper and jute industries in Kenya. He called on UN Environment Assembly to come up with implementable resolutions that can guide humanity towards intergenerational equity. "We should not be indicted by our children and our children's children for polluting planet earth," said President Carmona.
The President also urged the United Nations Environment Programme to strengthen its functions even as he announced that Kenya will increase its voluntary contributions to the world environmental body. He also announced that after the plastic ban milestone, Kenya has embarked on organizing a major regional antipollution forum. The Government is organising to host the East African Framework Agreement on Air Pollution, building on the Nairobi Agreement of 2008. The Nairobi agreement brought together 11 countries to develop actionable targets to address air pollution. "In furthering the agreement on Air Pollution, we hope to repeat the success we have achieved with the ban of plastic carrier bags, and we look forward to global support in this effort," said the President.
President Granger said pollution knows no frontiers and the actions of people in one corner of the world will directly affect those in other regions. He said eradicating pollution requires information, education and communication strategies that inform all people about the fact that a clean environment is a right for all.
President Kenyatta also announced that Kenya has started bidding for the hosting of the second United Nations Oceans Conference in 2020. The first conference was held in New York in June this year. He said Kenya plans to organise and host a global conference on blue economy within next year as a build up to the Oceans Conference.
"A clean environment is a right for all and not an entitlement for a select few," said President Granger. UN undersecretary and Executive Director of UNEP, Erik Solheim, also praised the Government of Kenya for passing tough laws to control plastic use. Cabinet Secretaries Judy Wakhungu (Environment) and Amina Mohamed (Foreign Affairs) attended the opening session of the UNEA. More than 4,000 delegates attended the conference.
The President said Kenya remains wholly committed to strengthening and supporting the UNEP to achieve its noble goals. "That is why we will increase Kenya's funding to the organization in order to support its programmmes," said the
Publication: The presidency monthly no.018 dec 2017 www.president.go.ke
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Tanzanians celebrates 56 years of independence.
After several decades, Tanganyika gained its independence from Britain to become The United Republic of Tanzania. Julius Nyerere, known as Baba wa Taifa (Father of the Nation), was influential in uniting much of the country by advocating for peaceful change, social equality and racial harmony. With the help of his efforts, Tanganyika became a republic on December 9, 1961. In 1964, Zanzibar followed and the two nations unified to form the United Republic of Tanzania with Nyerere as its first president. The President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolรกs Maduro Moros, on behalf of the Venezuelan people, expresses his warmest and sincere congratulations to the United Republic of Tanzania for the celebration of the 56th anniversary of its independence. We remember the illustrious and distinguished Tanzanian, Julius Nyerere, he was prominent because of his unselfish work for the sake of the emancipation achievement and restoration of the dignity of his people. Likewise, he was prominent because of his determination to struggle against the injustices, violations and abuses committed by colonialism. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms the deep and strong ties of fraternity and cooperation that bond our peoples. In this regard, it reiterates its commitment to continue working for strengthening the South-South cooperation along with the brotherly African country. source. www.mppre.gob.ve www.allafrica.com
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Kenya marks its 54th Independence Day
Kenyans’ from different walks of life marked Independence day on the 12th December 2017. Commonly known in Kenya as “Jamhuri Day� is a national holiday in Kenya, celebrated on 12th December each year. Jamhuri is the Swahili word for "republic" and the holiday is meant to officially mark the date of Kenya's independence which happened on 12th December 1963. The country became an independent republic after gaining full self-governance from the United Kingdom on 1st June 1963. Jamhuri Day is regarded as Kenya's most important day, marked by numerous festivities which celebrate the country's cultural heritage and looks back at her journey to independence. On this day of celebration, the President of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Nicolas Maduro Moros on behalf of the Bolivarian Government and the Venezuelan people extended his warmest and heartfelt words of congratulation to the Republic of Kenya. He added that on this day they remember the Father of the Kenyan Homeland, Jomo Kenyatta, who worthily hoisted the flags of sovereignty in favor of social demands and he also congratulated the brave people of Kenya for continuing to preserve their historic and libertarian legacy. The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela reaffirms its ties of fraternity and cooperation which bind both people. In this sense, it reiterates its commitment to continue working on strengthening diplomatic relations within the framework of the South-South cooperation with the brotherly African country. source. www.mppre.gob.ve www.nation.co.ke
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Top United Nations officials on urged everyone to raise their voices and stand up for the rights of others, while celebrating the launch of a year-long campaign on the 70th anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. “Over seven decades, this mighty document has helped to profoundly change our world,” said Secretary-General António Guterres on Monday 11 December 2017, at a special UN Headquarters event to commemorate Human Rights Day, observed annually on 10 December. “[The Universal Declaration of Human Rights] establishes the equality and dignity of every human being. It stipulates that every government has a duty to enable all people to enjoy their inalienable rights and freedoms. And it establishes that these rights are universal,” he added. Mr. Guterres highlighted the progress achieved by humankind since the adoption of the Universal Declaration, including advancing and protecting the rights of women, children and victims of discrimination as well as in holding accountable perpetrators of gross human rights violations and abuses. However, he also called for taking a stock in areas where progress has not been achieved. “In practice, recognition of the inherent dignity and equal rights of human beings is still far from universal,” he said, noting that millions around the world continue to suffer human rights violations and abuses. “And human rights defenders still face persecution, reprisals are rising and the space for civil society action is shrinking in very many nations,” added Mr. Guterres. www.un.org
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Chavismo Triumphant in the Municipal Elections: 15 Key Factors
The political capital of Chavismo has not been eroded. In its first bulletin, the National Electoral Council (CNE) announced the participation of 9,139,564 voters, 47.32 percent of those registered in the electoral roll. Although the results of several municipalities in the country had not been defined at the time of the announcement, 97.02 percent of the tally sheets had been processed and awarded more than 300 of the 335 municipalities to Chavismo in this electoral event. Another relevant fact: Chavismo also won the governorship of Zulia, the demographically most important state in the country whose election for Governor had to be repeated. In a first analysis of these results it is appropriate to analyze a set of factors:
1. Triumphant run for Chavismo From the end of July of this year until December 10, in only 140 days, there have been three electoral processes in Venezuela: the election to the National Constituent Assembly, elections of governors and the latter municipal elections. In these three processes, Chavismo has remoralized and re-empowered its electoral mobilizing capacity with clear victories. This is not a minor fact, understanding that the anti-Chavez narrative inside and outside Venezuela consistently accused chavismo of not wanting to measure themselves electorally. In fact, Chavismo increased its vote considerably in these elections: 945,746 more votes compared to regional elections this year. The opposite happened with the opposition, which fell sharply by 2,103,575 in total votes at national level, which refutes the weak argument of anti-Chavismo about abstentionism on both side, which the private corporate media said was the main factor in these elections.
People check a list at a polling station during a nationwide election for new mayors, in Caracas, Venezuela December 10, 2017. | Photo: Reuters
- More than 72 political parties received votes. Jorge Rodriguez, head of the Zamora 200 Campaign Command, at a press conference said this confirms that the opposition participated in the process.
2. Political peace and votes The aspirations of those looking to push Venezuela into a civilian confrontation sponsored by anti-chavism was dismantled in these elections. The power of the vote as a political weapon has managed to contravene the imposition of violence that destabilized Venezuela during 2017. On this particular aspect, President Nicolas Maduro has focused tiressly on seeking electoral ways to prevent the naked violence that has deteriorated the political and social fabric of the country.
3. The electoral readiness of Chavismo
The mediocre media also repeats the myth that Chavismo did not have opponents in these municipal elections. Another fallacious argument, since multiple opposition candidates ran. This is how Chavismo finished with 3,767,827 votes more than the anti-Chavez aspirants to mayorships, a comparative figure that exceeds the votes obtained by the revolutionary forces in the municipal elections of 2013, the governor elections in 2012, and all of the election won by Chavismo since the presidential elections of 2012.
Chavismo once again put to the test their abilities as conveners and electoral mobilizers, establishing their force as an undisputed, very difficult to defeat kind of political force, even in times of economic and social adversity. This implies that the political capital of Chavismo has not been eroded. This result infers, in addition, that the Chavista identity has been reaffirmed as well as the increasingly efficient use of its mobilization structures. It is also noticeable according to the electoral behavior from important social strata, that in Venezuela the economic context does not have a directly proportional impact on the political, although it does condition the climate of a secondary election like the municipal ones.
Other important data:
4. Some statistics are reset again
- The Bolivarian Revolution won 308 mayoralties (92 percent), while the opposition won 25 (7 percent) and only two for other parties (1 percent).
The Venezuelan opposition and in particular Julio Borges and other anti-Chavez leaders have insisted, even up to the month of November, that the rejection of Chavismo is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the population. The figures of electoral participation and the results that place Chavismo as a
- Chavismo obtained 6,517,605 votes in total (70 percent), the opposition 2,749,778 votes in total (29 percent).
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loose political majority leave these affirmations without a mathematical basis, a fundamental basis for the propaganda of international media and the sanctions of foreign governments.
5. Did abstention win? Certainly the participation of 47.32 percent of the electoral registry leaves, as has seldom happened in times of chavismo, an abstention higher than 50 percent. This will be an element used by the anti-chavista narrative to delegitimize the results and the vitality of the Venezuelan political system. The most negative electoral precedent was in the parliamentary elections of 2005, when anti-Chavismo withdrew and participation was 23 percent. These municipal elections were atypical in the sense that they were not held in conjunction with the governor elections, which also weakened the convening power of the participating organizations. The last regional elections with the low participation were the regional elections of 2012 with 52.85 percent. For the Venezuelan electoral standards, in these elections the participation was relatively low, but higher than the standards for elections in other Latin American countries whose "healthy democracies" do not receive pressures and sanctions from the big centers of global power. The most emblematic case comes from Chile, where mid-November presidential, parliamentary and regional elections were held and abstention was almost 55 percent. de la Patria, focusing on social programs and serving the population that faces a daily battle with speculation. This undoubtedly was a mobilizing factor of the Chavista vote.
6. The capitals Chavismo won at least 20 of the 24 state capitals in the country, including the Capital District, Caracas. It won municipalities among the most densely populated in the country (Maracaibo, Barquisimeto, Puerto Ordaz, Valencia, Sucre, among others) and stands in emblematic cities of different states, deepening its political reach in territories that had not seen Chavista victories in municipalities for years.
9. Chavismo did defeat the opposition Prior to these elections, three of the 24 parties that make up the Venezuelan opposition decided not participate in the municipal election: Democratic Action, Justice First and Popular Will, organizations that call themselves the most important within the opposition. With this they tried to create the perception that Chavismo was going uncontested in these elections. However, the vast majority of their local leaders were placed on the ballots for other parties and did not camouflage their participation in this contest, improvising alliances with other organizations and also counting on the logistical and financial resources of their parties, who in theory were not participating. The result of such a fatal strategy was an ambiguous presentation to the electorate of the opposition standard-bearers
7. Polarization persists Chavismo and the opposition political parties remain the two solid pillars of the electoral arena in Venezuela. The electoral results diluted all political aspirations of independent opposition candidacies and others who called themselves Chavistas but ran in parallel. In the case of this second group, they did not significantly diminish the support of the Chavista base to the PSUV and dissident Chavismo showed itself to be a phenomenon with digital presence (in digital media and networks) rather than as a real political force and mobilizer. The most significant case was the victory of Erika FarĂas in Libertador with 66.17 percent of the votes (491,328), which cleared the doubts about whether the candidacy of Eduardo Saman could contest for a good part of the electoral mass of Chavista Caracas outside the PSUV.
10. Division in anti-Chavismo The lack of political cohesion of the opposition is being felt, to the point of maximizing its tactical dismemberment. In these municipal elections, the divisions of the opposition vote among several anti-Chavez candidates competing for the same municipality were evident. The phenomenon of fragmentation was national and this dramatically minimized their chances. The internal struggle in anti-Chavismo due to the personal aspirations of its leaders made it impossible for them to put forward unified single candidacies in many of the municipalities, thereby sacrificing the aspirations of their own followers of winning or maintaining municipalities for the opposition.
8. Management in the current context A mobilizing element of Chavismo in these elections has been the response capacity of the central government within the framework of the current economic situation. Despite not being able to fully control the escalation of prices of basic staples, the political and economic management of the government focused on protecting the population through the CLAPs and the Carnet
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11. The abstention factor
14. The year 2017 ends
Anti-Chavismo continues to grapple with the dramatic effects of its violent escalation earlier this year, which fragmented the opposition across the board from its leaders to its followers. Many of these have separated from the Democratic Unity Table (MUD) because of the violence of 2017, now seeing this organization as politically inconvenient, however many supporters of this coalition have withdrawn support for its leaders once they stopped their destabilizing acts to dialogue with the Chavismo in "search of electoral guarantees." For this second group, radicalized by triumphalist expectations created, the MUD was "domesticated" by Chavismo and they are now assumed to be "traitors." Opposition abstention increased the chances for Chavismo in many municipalities.
President Maduro has been presented as the main Chavista contender for presidential elections next year. Ending 2017 as the leading political strategist, overcoming unprecedented challenges and against all odds. He also consolidated a broad social base that has been remoralized, reorganized and mobilized, after Chavismo was insistently singled out as a political force on the verge of disappearance. Put another way: there are few references that can be said to have made such a political turnaround in the recent history of the country, and Maduro has achieved it.
15. Presidential Elections The call for presidential elections will be determined by the National Constituent Assembly and the dialogues that Chavismo is holding with the opposition in the Dominican Republic. Anti-Chavismo has not consolidated a visible leadership that brings together its political forces with a view to next year, and in fact, the mere fact that this stage of dialogue has begun has deepened its internal divisions.
12. The local management factor Many municipalities in the hands of the MUD have passed into the hands of Chavismo, which is also explained by the exhaustion of the coalition as a vehicle for local management. The emblematic case is the Sucre municipality in Miranda state. The political malpractice of opposition mayors, who declared themselves "without resources" and have allowed their municipalities to collapse so as to blame the central government, had the outcome of the "abstention punishment" of the anti-Chavista electoral base. MUD in smaller communities is not a real reference for "change" and improvement of the basic life conditions of the population.
In closing The challenges of anti-Chavismo are still consolidating a solid leadership and unity, reaching higher levels of tactical and strategic cohesion and, on the other hand, establishing itself as a real alternative force, with a single project. As a political group they have not achieved any of this in 18 years, since they have appeared briefly and intermittently "united", but now he will have to consolidate everything in just months. Its only real strength is a social base with great discontent for the economic situation.
13. The inertia of electoral depression Anti-Chavismo looks demoralized, politically disarticulated and clearly demobilized. A general sense of uneasiness, which became more pronounced after the regional elections in October, weighed on them during the municipal elections. Opposition people don't feel driven by their leaders and are generally characterized by political apathy.
For Chavismo, the challenges point to the need to restore economic governance, make social protection mechanisms more efficient, relaunch and reinforce the relationship between the leadership of Chavismo and its bases, and on the other hand, to promote the Chavista identity to further remodel its political fabric, which looks revived and organized with the recent electoral victories. . www.telesurtv.net www.joindiaspora.com The views and opinions expressed in these articles are of the author and do not necessarily reflect the official position of the Embassy
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