VENEZUELA
For the first time since Hugo Chavez, the former army officer turned regional demagogue, came to power in Venezuela's 1998 elections, his once hopelessly incompetent rivals have managed to galvanize support for a potential challenger to his entrenched rule. Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, will face off against Chavez in presidential elections Oct. 7 after winning a landslide victory in an opposition primary, which was noteworthy for the sheer volume of voters who turned out. Though Chavez controls Venezuela's vast oil reserves as well as a formidable state-run media and patronage apparatus, growing disquiet over inflation as well as the country's deteriorating law-and-order situation may boost support for Capriles.
For the first time since Hugo Chavez, the former army officer turned regional demagogue, came to power in Venezuela's 1998 elections, his once hopelessly incompetent rivals have managed to galvanize support for a potential challenger to his entrenched rule. Henrique Capriles, a centrist state governor, will face off against Chavez in presidential elections Oct. 7 after winning a landslide victory in an opposition primary, which was noteworthy for the sheer volume of voters who turned out. Though Chavez controls Venezuela's vast oil reserves as well as a formidable state-run media and patronage apparatus, growing disquiet over inflation as well as the country's deteriorating law-and-order situation may boost support for Capriles.
"World: Can this man defeat Chavez?." Time Magazine. 27 Feb 2012: n. page. Web. 27 Feb. 2012. <http://www.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,2106984,00.html>.
