Chavez Opponent Elected in Primary Elections

In the middle of great expectations the Venezuelans elected the rival for President Hugo Chavez in the upcoming presidential elections for October 7. The electoral event was called by the opposition of Mesa de la Unidad Democratica (MUD). The consult was opened for the first time in the history of the country for 18,2 millions of Venezuelans.

After the 08:00 (12:30 GMT) around 3,707 voting centers in the country started their activities to receive tenths of voter that arrived early. MUD, the organizer of the consult has foreseen to keep 7,691 electoral tables open in the whole country. Teresa Albanez, president of the electoral commission of MUD informed to Globovision that the process started without inconveniences.

The National Electoral Council (CNE by its Spanish acronym) supported MUD with equipments, surveillance by the military forces. Among the presidential candidates are the governor of Miranda Henrique Capriles, 39; the governor of Zulia, Pablo Perez, 42; the independent congresswoman Maria Corina Machado, 44; the former Ambassador of the UN, Diego Arria, 73 and the former left deputy Pablo Medina, 64. (AV)