Venezuelans returned President Nicolás Maduro to power May 20th in an election that, according to international observors, went off without a hitch.
The incumbent political heir to the late Hugo Chávez won decisively, garnering more than two-thirds of the popular vote; his next closest rival, former Chavista Henri Falcón, managing just less than 2 million votes, or about 21 per cent.
Despite the landslide victory and endorsement of the internationals, the United States and European Union still find fault with the electoral system former American president, Jimmy Carter has called “the best in the world.”
The self-declared champions of global democracy called Maduro a “dictator” before the poll, vowing they would not recognize his legitimacy, and now that he’s won, say they will make good on promises made to ratchet up already-crippling economic sanctions; a collective punishment for the people’s temerity in returning a Bolivarian government.
Dr. Alan MacLeod is an educator, essayist, author, and proud member of Scotland’s Glasgow University Media Group. A sociologist by training, MacLeod’s research interests include media theory, propaganda, social media and South American politics. Alan’s book, ‘Bad News From Venezuela, 20 Years of Fake News and Misreporting‘ is freshly off the Routledge Press presses, and his articles appear at CounterPunch.org and FAIR.org, where I found his prescient piece, ‘Writing Off Democracy in Venezuela, US Press and Politicians Dream of a Coup‘.
Alan MacLeod in the first half.
And; it’s a tale Dickens would not have told better: Two countries who could not be geographically nearer, and yet whose leadership are philosophically light years apart. Colombia held presidential elections in May too, but unlike neighbour Venezuela, Colombia has been captured by a ruling oligarchy who ruthlessly serve the same transnational interests currently marauding the World.
Daniel Kovalik is a human rights lawyer, essayist, and author who’s book, ‘The Plot to Scapegoat Russia: How the CIA and the Deep State Have Conspired to Vilify Putin’ could add a new chapter by the week, even a year after publication. Dan was one of the hundreds of international observors to the Venezuelan election, and one of the many fewer to carry on from Caracas to also witness Colombia’s vote last weekend.
Dan Kovalik and a tale of two democracies in the second half.
And; Victoria-based activist and CFUV Radio broadcaster-at large, Janine Bandcroft will be here at the bottom of the hour with the Left Coast Events Bulletin of some of the good things to get up to in and around our city in the coming week. But first, Alan MacLeod and first the verdict, then the vote: Writing Off Democracy in Venezuela.
Chris Cook hosts Gorilla Radio, airing live every Thursday between 11-Noon Pacific Time. In Victoria at 101.9FM, and on the internet at: http://cfuv.uvic.ca. He also serves as a contributing editor to the web news site, http://www.pacificfreepress.com. Check out the GR blog at: http://gorillaradioblog.blogspot.ca/