Category Archives: Primaries

Shadow foreign policy

Posted on June 6, 2013 by

Over at Foreign Policy’s Transitions blog, I discuss the opposition’s new diplomatic offensive. The value added: These trips are part of a new phase for the Venezuelan opposition. For the first time, they are embarking on a serious diplomatic offensive. … Continue reading →

Posted in Colombia, Foreign Policy, María Corina Machado | 34 Comments

“It”

Posted on May 28, 2013 by

I’m sitting in a small conference room in the basement of the Santiago Ritz Carlton. A delicate breakfast is placed before me, and thirty people are gathered for an intimate conference hosted by Chile’s Council of Foreign Affairs. The attendees … Continue reading →

Posted in María Corina Machado, Politics | 170 Comments

Press reporting Capriles and López could be jailed (Updated)

Posted on April 17, 2013 by

Leopoldo López says there is a warrant out for their arrest. Spanish daily ABC reports a similar thing. They are being accused of the seven deaths that took place during last Monday’s protests. Don’t know how accurate this is, so … Continue reading →

Posted in Henrique Capriles, Leopoldo López | 146 Comments

A rejoinder on Leopoldo López’s indictment

Posted on February 17, 2013 by

The substance of the accusations being brought 15-years after the fact against opposition leader Leopoldo López don’t merit very much comment, other than to note that that guy must really be squeaky clean if the only thing chavismo could find to charge him for … Continue reading →

Posted in Leopoldo López, Primero Justicia | 26 Comments

Leopoldo López’s future electoral viability bolstered

Posted on February 16, 2013 by

As the regime moves to put Leopoldo López in jail for the mother of all cold cases, I can’t help but wonder: Has chavismo really thought this one through? Fast forward a few years, and a stint jail could well be … Continue reading →

Posted in Leopoldo López, Repression | 38 Comments

The #1 Defender of Diosdado Cabello’s Rights

Posted on January 24, 2013 by

Opposition Twitter celebrity Diego Arria is mad as MUD, and he’s not gonna take it anymore. He is frustrated that the opposition umbrella group (following its leader, Henrique Capriles) has decided to forego claims that Maduro is illegitimate. In his … Continue reading →

Posted in Diego Arria, Henrique Capriles | 68 Comments

All eyes on Miranda

Posted on December 16, 2012 by

Twenty three Venezuelan states will pick governors today, but there is one race that looms larger than the rest: the race in Miranda. If Henrique Capriles Radonski is re-elected comfortably, he cements his status as the front-runner for any Presidential … Continue reading →

Posted in Henrique Capriles, Primaries | 19 Comments

Sunday’s De Facto Primary

Posted on December 11, 2012 by

One thing’s for sure: in the (now very likely) event of early presidential elections, the CNE calendar is going to be a circus. The thirty days stipulated between the time the president steps aside and the day of the vote … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavez cancer, Henrique Capriles, Nicolas Maduro, Presidential Election, Primaries | 31 Comments

16-D Races to Watch: Zulia

Posted on November 18, 2012 by

Zulia has always been a mixed bag for Chavismo: The comandante presidente has won there in every presidential election so far (including the recent 7-O), but no Chavista has ever been elected Governor. Chávez himself has complained about this. Un Nuevo … Continue reading →

Posted in Chavismo, Opposition, Pablo Perez, Politics | 3 Comments

Winning with Twitter

Posted on June 25, 2012 by

There aren’t a lot of democracy lessons I’d be willing to take from a bunch of Egyptian theocrats, but this is definitely one.  [Hat tip: Kolya.]

Posted in International, Leopoldo López | 30 Comments

What on earth does Pablo Pérez think he’s doing?

Posted on March 28, 2012 by

In a shockingly ham-fisted move, Pablo Pérez’s announced earlier today that the opposition is in talks with a number of chavista governors, including those in Trujillo, Mérida, Bolívar and Yaracuy, to get them to switch their allegiance to Capriles. It’s just obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Pablo Perez, Politics | 32 Comments

After the primary

Posted on February 26, 2012 by

As public attention has shifted again to Chávez’s health, the succesful opposition primary still has some unresolved issues. Results in the two most important municipalities in Caracas (Libertador & Sucre) gave narrow victories for Ismael Garcia and Juan Carlos Caldera, both … Continue reading →

Posted in Opposition, Primaries, Primero Justicia | 17 Comments

Stepping back

Posted on February 15, 2012 by

Chavismo’s generalized freakout over the selection of a Nazi Zionist gay fraudster TFP-member bent on world domination as Opposition Unity Candidate has been troubling to watch, but stepping back, what are we likely to remember about Sunday? The marginalization of the old guard: AD’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Primaries | 39 Comments

Live-Blogging Capriles’s Nomination Event

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

I’m at CIEC. WiFi works. (Wonder of wonder, Miracle of miracles!) Let’s live blog it. 9:07 – The last 45 seconds of a 14 minute speech were good.  Come to think of it, if he’d delivered that same exact speech … Continue reading →

Posted in Henrique Capriles, Primaries | 95 Comments

Et tu, William?

Posted on February 14, 2012 by

William Ojeda picks this afternoon, of all possible afternoons, to insinuate Juan Carlos Caldera stole the Sucre (Petare) Municipal Primary from him. Sickening. Actually, it’s William Ojeda we’re talking about. I’m not even a little bit surprised. (I turned up … Continue reading →

Posted in Primaries | 13 Comments