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10 presidential candidates to
vie for Venezuelan presidency
Ten candidates, including
incumbent President Hugo Chavez,
will compete for the next
presidency of Venezuela in the
presidential vote on Dec. 3 this
year, the National Election
Council (CNE) said in a
statement.
The presidential candidate
registration officially ended on
Thursday, with a total of 10
presidential candidates having
registered in the CNE.
Former Minister of Transport and
Communications Roberto Smith,
who was expected to register and
contend for the polls, said he
would not do so, and will
support top opposition
candidate, Zulia provincial
governor Manuel Rosales instead.
A poll published last week by a
national daily said Chavez had
58.9 percent of voter
intentions, Rosales 19.3
percent, and Benjamin Rausseo, a
highly popular standup comedian
from the Vote Rock Party, a mere
6.2 percent.
Other candidates for the
presidency include Jose Tineo of
the Venezuela Third Millennium,
Carmelo Romano Perez of the
People's United Liberal Movement
and Jesus Caldera Infante of the
New Progressive Alliance.
Voters have to complete the
registration process by Sept. 4,
with appropriate updates of
their details. The CNE will hold
a series of activities across
the nation to promote voter
participation.
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