Venezuelan opposition head seeks 2015 vote gains, and 'Caribbean Norway'

[Zorro]

Venezuela's new opposition chief is targeting 2015 parliamentary elections as a springboard to end more than 15 years of socialist rule.

Given its huge oil reserves and relatively small population of 29 million, Venezuela should not have to tolerate its "catastrophic" economic performance, Jesus Torrealba, the newly named leader of the opposition coalition, said in an interview.

"Forgive me if it sounds pretentious, but I want to live with the quality of life they have in Norway - with a Venezuelan flavor," he said, citing the Nordic country's oil-funded development and commitment to social welfare. "A Caribbean Norway - it's perfectly possible."

After being outwitted for years by late socialist leader Hugo Chavez and then narrowly losing last year's presidential vote to his hand-picked successor Nicolas Maduro, opposition parties' next chance at the polls is a National Assembly election in late 2015.

http://news.yahoo.com/venezuelan-opposition-head-seeks-2015-vote-gains-caribbean-173546770.html

Certainly sounds better than "the Caribbean Zimbabwe".

[Bacchus4.0]

1. Indeed, aim high. Unless you'rea chavista then you aim low and at anyone. n/t