Caracas, Venezuela
In a sign of growing opposition to the leftist regime of President Hugo Chavez, tens of thousands of Venezuelans filled the streets of Caracas this week in support of Manuel Rosales, a candidate in December’s presidential election. Rosales, the center-left governor of the oil-rich state of Zulia, is the front-runner among 18 candidates opposing Chavez. Rosales has campaigned heavily in poor areas of Venezuela, which are Chavez strongholds, talking up his plan to distribute debit cards to the poor. “Rosales is buying votes from the poor by offering something in return like cash,” says political commentator Alberto Garrido. “He is acting like a demagogue.” Chavez, who took office in 1999, has been a vociferous critic of the U.S. and President Bush, calling him “the devil” during a recent speech at the United Nations.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
-
Denmark’s record-setting arms purchase raises eyebrows and anxietyIN THE SPOTLIGHT By eschewing American-made munitions for their European counterparts, the Danish government is bracing for Russian antagonism and sending a message to the West
-
Is hate speech still protected speech?Talking Points Pam Bondi’s threat to target hate speech raises concerns
-
‘Mental health care is health care’Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
