Posted on 05/20/2018 7:13:09 AM PDT by BBell
The Latest on Sunday's presidential election in Venezuela (all times local):
9:22 a.m.
The leafy streets in the opposition stronghold of eastern Caracas were largely empty on Sunday, but voters in other parts of the city headed to the polls.
Near Petare, Caracas' biggest slum, festive revolutionary music played as a few dozen voters stood in a long line to flash their so-called "fatherland cards" to socialist party volunteers.
A woman wearing a Sports Ministry jacket in the red, yellow and blue colors of Venezuela's flag scanned each card with her phone —a form of verifying that cardholders had done their patriotic duty of voting, presumably for President Nicolas Maduro.
The existence of so-called "Red Points," many just a few steps from voting centers, is an integral part of the government's get out the vote machinery.
"If the opposition wants to do the same, they are free to do so," said Rigoberto Barazarte, the owner of a small car wash business who wants to see a re-elected Maduro toughen his stance against elites he says are trying to sabotage Venezuela's economy.
The opposition considers it a pressure tactic, tantamount to using food as a form of political coercion. Since 2017, the government has issued 16.5 million fatherland cards, which are used to access social programs and benefits.
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8:09 a.m.
Pope Francis is praying that "beloved" Venezuela's people and rulers will wisely choose peace and unity as the nation elects a new president.
Francis, addressing faithful in St. Peter's Square on Sunday, asked that the "Holy Spirit give all the Venezuelan people, everyone, leaders, people, the wisdom to find the path of peace and unity."
He also prayed for prison inmates who died Saturday. Human rights advocates say 11 people were killed in a Venezuelan prison riot last week sparked by inmates who
(Excerpt) Read more at abcnews.go.com ...
Well there are 3 choices right? Maduro, Maduro or Maduro.
The starvation caused by socialism can only be remedied by MORE socialism! </snark>
He’ll win re-election. Who wants to lose their fatherland card benefits?
No one wants to vote in a sham election. The fix is in.
“The leafy streets...”
Have they eaten these yet?
A deadly farce.
> Well there are 3 choices right? Maduro, Maduro or Maduro. <
With the ballots counted by...Maduro.
No election system is perfect, but Venezuela has one of the most efficient, secure and transparent electoral systems. “The election process in Venezuela is the best in the world,” said former President Jimmy Carter in 2012
The pope likes maduro.
I’m hoping carter and pope-a-dope are both royally angry at the outcome of today’s election in Venezuela.
And, the ballots counted in advance of the ballots being cast, one suspects.
If only Jimmi Carter could oversee this (cough, cough) election.
.........how STRONG America is at her core can be measured by the fact that she survived Jimmy Carter and Barack Obama!
How can they call this sham a presidential election when Venezuela is not a democracy?
2.5 million have crossed t j e Colombian border....and they can’t vote. Its fixed anyway.
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