Owen Richards

鈥淚t would be easier for 100 camels to pass through the eye of a needle than for [the capitalist class] to win the election鈥, said Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez speaking at the Caracas Municipal Theatre on August 15. It is just six weeks until Venezuela鈥檚 October 7 presidential election pits incumbent Chavez and his pro-revolution Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) electoral alliance against his main rival Henrique Capriles. Capriles heads the right-wing opposition bloc, the Democratic Unity Forum (MUD).
Cocaine, Death Squads & the War on Terror: US Imperialism & Class Struggle in Colombia By Oliver Villar & Drew Cottle Monthly Review Press, New York, 2011 Dedicated to 鈥渢he workers and peasants of Colombia鈥, Cocaine, Death Squads and the War on Terror is a serious and rigorous study of Colombian society. For the authors, both lecturers in politics at Australian universities, the book represents a labour of love, condensing more than 10 years of research.
鈥淎pril 13, the great day of victory 10 years ago, opened the way to the independence and unity of our Latin America and the Caribbean,鈥 Venezuela's socialist President Hugo Chavez said on April 13. He was speaking during a commemoration of the uprising that toppled a short-lived military coup that aimed to crush the Chavez presidency . 鈥淲e showed that a people united will never be defeated.鈥
鈥淭he confrontation here isn鈥檛 between Chavez and this little man, it鈥檚 the bourgeoisie against the people, the empire against the country鈥, Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez said on February 16. Chavez was referring to his newly-nominated presidential opponent, Henrique Capriles Radonski. He was pointing to the class battle that lies behind the looming presidential elections scheduled for October 7.
Venezuela鈥檚 socialist president Hugo Chavez has likened the Occupy Wall Street movement in the United States to Venezuela鈥檚 February 1989 Caracazo riots against neoliberal policies that are widely seen as the start of Venezuela's revolutionary process. Chavez made the comments by phone on the television program Dando y Dando on October 5.
Voters should expect to see 鈥渁 new Chavez, a rejuvenated Chavez, touring the country as a candidate, touring the streets at a rhythm set by the circumstances鈥, said Venezuela鈥檚 socialist president Hugo Chavez after the date for Venezuela鈥檚 presidential elections was announced as October 7, 2012. The Venezuelan Electoral Commission鈥檚 (CNE) president Tibisay Lucena also announced that judicial, regional and local elections would take place on separate dates.