Says Latinnews: A consummate democrat committed to transforming Venezuela to benefit the poor, or an archetypal autocrat bent on amassing personal power? It is axiomatic to call President Hugo Chávez a polarising figure but when on 5 March he finally succumbed to the cancer which he had doggedly fought for two years, the ledger of his political life could be opened and examined. It showed more debits than credits.
The sheer power of his personality and his innate talent for inspiring loyalty by conveying the impression that he cared personally is inimitable within his Bolivarian Revolution.
Venezuelans are likely to elect his anointed heir Nicolás Maduro as a valedictory homage to Chávez in forthcoming elections, but Maduro lacks this talent and he will not be able to sidestep serious economic and public security problems as Chávez could. The warring factions within Chavismo are united now but it is far from clear he can keep them that way.
Venezuelan CNE admitted seven presidential candidates
The National Electoral Council (CNE) of Venezuela admitted today seven presidential candidates of a total of eight registered for the elections of April 14, convened in line with the Constitution.
The session of the CNE rejected the nomination of Gonzalo Contreras, from Cambio Pana party, as he did not submitted the presidential management plan, requirement set in the Constitution and the regulations.
Thus, the list of applicants includes Nicolás Maduro, nominated by the United Socialist Party of Venezuela and other 13 political organizations; the opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, on behalf of the Democratic Unity Table, while also repeating Queen Sequera, from Labor Power Party and Maria Bolivar, from the Democratic Party United for Peace and Freedom.
It is also included Christian Pastor Eusebio Mendez, who will represent the organization New Vision for My Country, created in 2012, Fredy Tabarquina Organized by the Youth party of Venezuela and Julio Mora, from Udemo group.
Life sentences given to five Argentinean oppressors
Five Argentinean oppressors accused of committing crimes against humanity against 20 victims held at Campo de Mayo under military dictatorship (1976-1983) were given life prison sentences today.
The sentence was ruled by the Federal Criminal Trial Court No.1 of Buenos Aires against ex de facto ruler Reynaldo Benito Bignone and ex-commander of Military Institutes, Santiago Omar Riveros.
The Judicial Information Center also said that life sentences were also given to Luis Sadi Pepa, Eduardo Oscar Corrado and Carlos Tomas Macedra. Campo de Mayo was a main clandestine detention center in Buenos Aires. At least 4,000 people are estimated to have been held there.
This ruling comes as 25 oppressors are being tried as part of the Operation Condor case. They are accused of illegal assembly to systematically killing political opponents, among other crimes.
