Venezuela Regime Fights Back Against Surging Opposition as Elections Near

[FLPanhandle]

Source: Wall Street Journal

CARACAS, Venezuela—Venezuela’s socialist government, facing the prospect of its first major election defeat in Sunday’s congressional vote, is fighting back against a strong opposition by resorting to a trusted formula of spreading fear and currying favor.

State workers are being pressured to vote for candidates of the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, or PSUV, or risk losing their jobs, public employees said in interviews. In speeches and rallies, officials remind audiences how much they depend on government largess, even as they tell grandmothers that a new congress will eliminate their pensions. The poor are told the opposition will close state-subsidized food markets and free health clinics, despite opposition vows to keep them open.

If voters give the edge to the opposition, President Nicolás Maduro says his government could go into “rebellion” and refuse to share any power—intimating that he would use force if necessary.

“Imagine if they dominated the National Assembly,” Mr. Maduro said in a televised address this week. “I wouldn’t allow it, I swear, I wouldn’t let my hands be tied by anyone. I’d take to the street with the people.”



Read more: http://www.wsj.com/articles/venezuela-regime-fights-back-against-surging-opposition-as-elections-near-1449191000

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"President Nicolás Maduro says his government could go into “rebellion” and refuse to share any power—intimating that he would use force if necessary." Oh boy, it's not enough this guy has destroyed their economy, sold off future years worth of oil at cheap prices to the Chinese in exchange for loans, and now he is about to destroy their democracy.

The PSUV has gained about 10 percentage points since September, according to the polling organization IVAD. Still, the opposition led by 52% to 32% among committed voters in polling IVAD conducted in mid-November.

[Yallow]

1. Napoleon Complex?

Problem is Napoleon was brilliant, and Maduro is dumber than the average rock.

[Archae]

2. Since when are our republicans working in their elections?

Well, that is their usual M. O, baseless fear, intimidation, fraud, and implied violence.

[Renew Deal]

3. Maduro is probably afraid of being treated the same way he has treated opponents.

I don't know how someone could read his threats and still vote for him.

[rpannier]

4. Same mentality as those who listen to Trump and Cruz

and say they'll vote for either of them

[FairWinds]

5. And we all know what a reliable source the WSJ is . .

willing to challenge the empire at the drop of a hat . .

owned by Rupert Murdoch . .

cheer led the Venezuelan coup in 2002 . .

called the 2003 Iraq invasion so right . .

What is this crap doing on DU?

[GGJohn]

6. Afraid of the truth regarding Ven.?

Or do you prefer sources like Telesur, Eva Golinger, etc.?

[FairWinds]

8. I don't look to Rupert or the WSJ

for the truth about anything.

Back when I was teaching Latin Am. Politics I found NACLA pretty reliable.

[hughee99]

9. So Maduro didn't say this in a nationally televised speech?

"Imagine if they dominated the National Assembly,” Mr. Maduro said in a televised address this week. “I wouldn’t allow it, I swear, I wouldn’t let my hands be tied by anyone. I’d take to the street with the people.”

Or did he just mean something else, or not mean it at all. I have to imagine it should be easy to confirm what he said in a televised speech.

[Marksman_91]

12. Would you trust Noam Chomsky then? He himself said the chavista model is an utter failure n/t

[brooklynite]

10. Funny how, when the WSJ poll said Sanders won the last debate, it was taken as gospel...

[FairWinds]

11. By whom?

Not me.