Venezuela's Chavez violating campaign rules ahead of legislative vote, official says

[Zorro]

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An electoral official accused President Hugo Chavez and his allies of breaking campaign laws by using state-run media to berate rivals and praise friends ahead of this month's legislative elections.

Vicente Diaz, one of the National Election Council's five directors, said Chavez is violating legislation prohibiting elected officials from using their posts to promote candidacies. Chavez has ignored the law, which also bans the use of state media and public funds for campaigning purposes, Diaz said.

"We must investigate because (the president) is insulting other candidates ... through the use of state media," Diaz told a news conference.

Diaz is the council's only director who is sympathetic to the opposition's complaints. The council's other four directors, including its president, are former members of the ruling party or widely perceived as pro-Chavez, and none of them have raised concerns over the alleged violations.

<snip>

More at: http://www.brandonsun.com/world/breaking-news/venezuelas-chavez-violating-campaign-rules-ahead-of-legislative-vote-official-says-102121149.html

[naaman fletcher]

1. good post.

thanks for sharing!

[ChangoLoa]

2. Separation of powers

V. Diaz got scolded by the head of the electoral power, T. Lucena. Mandatory transmissions (even for an electoral meeting) and mandatory publicities should not be included in the electoral campaign time for the government. Lucena says that if one excludes those, the opposition has an advantage in TV (for paid commercials on TV, she means). All in all, she considers electoral rector V. Diaz to putting up a show.

Lucena regañó a rector Díaz

La presidenta del Consejo Nacional Electoral, rectora Tibisay Lucena, exhortó a su colega, Vicente Díaz, a elevar sus denuncias o quejas ante la Comisión de Participación Política y Financiamiento. Rechazó las declaraciones ofrecidas por el funcionario a los medios de comunicación social, quien responsabilizó al Jefe de Estado, de incumplir con la normativa que rige las elecciones legislativas fijadas para el 26 de septiembre. "Nosotros no atendemos a shows (sic) mediáticos. Esas reglas se han aplicado en otros procesos electorales (...) Los programas de opinión no están incluidos en el reglamento".

Lucena hizo referencia a la difusión de propaganda televisiva para la promoción de las candidaturas. Dijo que hasta el día 30 de agosto, en los canales Globovision, Televen, Tves; Venevision y VTV, se transmitieron 48 piezas, para un total de 23 minutos con 40 segundos, en espacios pagados por el Psuv, que representa 35,82%. En el caso de la oposición, según el monitoreo del Poder Electoral, se han difundido 86 cuñas, que representa el 64, 17%, con 38 minutos con 5 segundos. *

Desde el inicio de la campaña (el pasado 25 de agosto) a la fecha, el Psuv ha acumulado 44,17 minutos de propaganda (39,36%) y los partidos de la Mesa de la Unidad Democrática (60,64%), 1 hora, 21 minutos.


* Mandatory transmissions (cadenas, already 3 hours this week) and mandatory governmental free publicities not included


http://www.ultimasnoticias.com.ve/capriles/cadena-global/detalle.aspx?idart=3307619&idcat=56431&tipo=2