Venezuelan elections

[Scottish_Militant]

Three Key Venezuelan Opposition Parties Declare Withdrawal from Elections (http://www.marxismonline.com/modules.php?name=ForumNews&id=547)

Venezuela Accuses U.S. of Involvement in Election Pull-Out (http://www.marxismonline.com/modules.php?name=ForumNews&id=560)

International Observers Ratify Transparency and Legitimacy of Venezuelan Vote (http://www.marxismonline.com/modules.php?name=ForumNews&id=561)

Only 10% of Candidates Withdrew from Venezuelan Elections (http://www.marxismonline.com/modules.php?name=ForumNews&id=562)

I think its pretty clear that this was a truly desperate attempt by the opposition to cry foul when it was clear that they were about to be humiliated in these elections, once again their plan has been defeated and they plunge from one crisis to another, the revolutionary workers of Venezuela need to finish them off once and for all by advancing towards socialism and smashing them into the dust.

[Correa]

I heard a report yesterday on NPR saying that "Hugo Chavez's could amend the constitution so that he could rule for as long as he wanted". Now if that is not capitalist propaganda I don't know what is. I expected this from FOX News, but not NPR. It was a BBC report by the way. Their website was less bizarre, but I do agree that the Venezuelan workers need to stop negotiating with the capitalist infidels.

Venezuelans vote for new congress

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41088000/jpg/_41088152_voter_afp203b.jpg
Hugo Chavez urged voters to turn out in force

Venezuelans have been voting for a new parliament, with polls suggesting supporters of President Hugo Chavez will extend their majority.

All five main opposition parties have boycotted the poll, accusing the electoral body of bias. Mr Chavez said they had failed to sabotage the vote.

As in previous polls, Mr Chavez cast his ballot in a shanty town in Caracas.

His allies need a strong win in order to change the law limiting the number of times a president can serve.

'Resisting death'

The left-wing Mr Chavez's allies currently hold 89 of the single chamber National Assembly's 167 seats and are aiming to extend their majority.

About 14.5 million Venezuelans are eligible to vote, although correspondents have predicted a low turnout.

The BBC's Greg Morsbach in Caracas says people queued to vote in deprived parts of the city, where support for the president is usually strong.

Polling stations in middle class urban areas were almost empty, our correspondent says.

The National Electoral Council said 556 out of 5,500 candidates have pulled out of the congressional vote.

Opposition leaders accused the electoral authorities of favouring pro-government candidates.

Mr Chavez condemned the boycott as a Washington-backed plot to destabilise his regime - a charge the US rejected.

"These old parties, they are already dead, but they are still hanging on, resisting death," Mr Chavez told reporters after voting.

"Now they've accelerated their own demise."

Pipeline blast

The government deployed thousands of soldiers nationwide to maintain order during the vote.

Hours before voting began, an oil pipeline in the west of the country was damaged in a blast, which officals claimed was a sabotage attack.

The poll is being monitored by observers from the EU and the Organisation of American States.

[Correa]

Anyone know when the results will be in?

[bolshevik butcher]

The bolivarian mvoement is aiming to have a two thirds majoraty in parliment and they are projected to get it as well. However the real fight in veneuzlea is now within the bvolivaraina movemnt itself. The left wing of the movement which now seems to increasingl include chavez is becoming more and more radicalized.

[fpeppett]

the propaganda used against Chavez is pathetic, he has such a huge majority of supporters they can't do anything. Chavez apparently has info on a CIA involve conspiracy, would like to see that get into the open.
Makes you think that if America cannot get him out by lies and propaganda, they are probably going to result to force, well seeing as they already have once..

[bolshevik butcher]

It would not be the firs time they've trie either. It's well known that they were behind the coup in 2005. It wouldnt be surprising if they tried to do something similar, or maybe even went in and tried to do the job themselves. They might wait until they've pulled out of Iraq, but cahvez has armed the people with 100 000 ak47s and they are training militias, not to mention the militay, it is likely that the rank and file will stand by him. It would be a difficult task militarily.

[fpeppett]

US and Jungle warfare don't mix, remember Vietnam? I think that the inevitable of the US invading Venzuela will eventually happen, but not while they have troops elsewhere.

But yeah its obvious they were behing the military coup there, but it was still a pretty half-arsed attempt at removing Chavez from power.

Just realised I basically said exctly the same thing as clenched fist, ah well...