Reply #8: Chavez Launches his Candidacy for Venezuela's Presidency 2007-20013 [View All]

[Melissa G]

Chavez Launches his Candidacy for Venezuela's Presidency 2007-20013

Monday, Aug 14, 2006 By: Steven Mather - Venezuelanalysis.com



Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez holds up the form with which he registered as candidate for the December 3 election.
Credit: Silvia Leindecker



thousands gathered outside the electoral council headquarters to help Chavez launch his re-election campaign.
Credit: Silvia Leindecker

Caracas , Venezuela , August 14, 2006 —Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez presented himself at the National Electoral Council (CNE) Saturday to register his candidacy for the December 3 presidential election.

He was nominated in all by 25 different political organisations which, besides his own, Movement for the Fifth Republic (MVR), included coalition partner Patria Para Todos (Fatherland for All), Podemos (We Can – For Social Democracy), the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), and several smaller parties, such as the Middle Class Revolutionaries and the Movement for Revolutionary Action (Tupamaros).

After registering, Chávez expressed his confidence in the Venezuelan electoral system and, regarding the campaign, said that it, “must be above all a debate about ideas, an opportunity to elevate the level of debate and the political culture.”

He also used the opportunity to guarantee that, in accordance with the norms of publicity and propaganda constituted by the CNE, he would not use official channels such as the weekly presidential TV program Aló Presidente to campaign for his re-election.

Waiting for Chávez outside of the headquarters of the CNE in Caracas Square was a sea of red: thousands of followers in trademark Chavista red t-shirts and caps, the slogans inscribed on them including their party loyalties and from which part of the country they had come. They had come from all corners of the republic to support Chavez and danced to loud music pumping out of speakers while they awaited his appearance.

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news.php?newsno=2042