[Magnetonium]

It appears to me that this new rising political star in Venezuela, and challenger to Chavez in upcoming elections, is not very far politically from Chavez and even supports some of his policies. Your views?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-latin-america-16811723

Henrique Capriles Radonski is a young lawyer who has won every election he has contested and has enjoyed a meteoric rise through the political ranks.

He had been the front-runner ever since Venezuela's united opposition parties announced they would choose a single candidate to stand against President Hugo Chavez in October's presidential poll.

As the energetic governor of the state of Miranda, Mr Capriles, 39, likes to stay in touch with voters, visiting shantytowns, often on his motorbike, to supervise projects and play basketball with the locals.

Dressed casually in baseball cap and jeans, he likes to be seen to be getting things done.

He was photographed wading chest high in muddy flood waters when heavy rains brought landslides and chaos to Miranda in 2010.

He says his political inspiration is former Brazilian President Luiz Inacio o Lula da Silva who courted businesses and investors while also developing social programmes.

"Those who want progress, jobs, well-managed companies, somewhere we can develop small and medium businesses…everyone who wants that kind of country, come and join my bus for progress," he said at a recent rally.
Arrested

Mr Capriles' youthful image may well be key in October's vote.

He was involved with a group of other young politicians in setting up in 2000 a new opposition party Primero Justicia, or First Justice, which grew out of a civil association founded in 1992.

The new party set itself apart from Venezuela's established political parties that Mr Chavez likes to criticise so much.

Like many in Venezuela, Henrique Capriles is descended from immigrants - Dutch on his father's side, and Polish and Russian on his mother's.

His maternal grandparents were Jews who arrived in Caracas after fleeing the Holocaust in Europe during the World War II, a fact he likes to bring up when Chavez supporters accuse him of being a "fascist".

He had a privileged upbringing, studying law and going on to work in both the public and private sectors in Venezuela.

Mr Capriles describes his policies as "centrist" and "humanist" and has emphasised the need for better education to beat Venezuela's high levels of crime.
President Hugo Chavez attends a summit by the eight-nation Bolivarian Alliance bloc, Alba, t Miraflores presidential palace in Caracas, Venezuela, on Saturday 4 February Mr Capriles has praised some of the policies of President Chavez

Entering politics at the age of 25, he became the country's youngest ever deputy in Congress, and was eventually chosen to be vice president of the house.

He then served as mayor of Baruta, a district within the capital Caracas, and was imprisoned in 2002 after a coup attempt against President Chavez.

During the short-lived coup, anti-Chavez protesters had gathered at the Cuban Embassy in Baruta where they suspected prominent chavistas, among them the vice president, were hiding out.

They laid siege to the building but were eventually persuaded to disperse.

Afterwards, Chavez supporters alleged that Mr Capriles led the siege. Capriles said he had helped to negotiate an end to the stand-off.

He was charged and brought to trial, but eventually acquitted.

The episode seemed to do nothing to dampen some voters' enthusiasm for the political wunderkind.

Mr Capriles stunned Chavez favourite Diosdado Cabello in 2008 when he beat him to the governorship of the state of Miranda, Venezuela's second most populous state.
Reaching out?

Although he has now been chosen as the opposition candidate, Mr Capriles is trying to appeal to as wide a range of the electorate as possible.

He has been quick to praise some aspects of President Chavez's government, like the push to build health clinics and schools in poor neighbourhoods.

Mr Capriles opposes nationalising more businesses, arguing that it discourages investment, but has said he would not automatically return expropriated assets to private owners.

He is not married and joked recently with the wife of another presidential hopeful that he needed her to find him a girlfriend.

"I need a wife too, I need a teacher," he said, "so that I'll have a first lady once I'm President".

[Social_Critic]

Magnetorium, I laugh my arse off when I hear the Chavistas call Capriles "the candidate of the right". Capriles is an interesting character, he's part Jewish, from a fairly upscale family, but was put in jail by Chavez for a while, and seems to have a genuine religious conviction to share and share alike. I consider him a leftist, but more like Ollanta Humala or Dilma Rouseff, rather than a megalomaniac and fascist like Chavez, for whom communism is just a vehicle to introduce populist measures that give him absolute power.

I don't know if you speak Spanish, but listening to these guys talk gives one an insight that's impossible to get reading about them. For example, Chavez got on the radio two days ago to call on the people to come see him in Valencia, and implied he wanted them to come in "with frenzy" to cheer for him. THe guy is truly going nuts.

However, before you get your little red flag and start waving it with happy thoughts about Capriles being a marxist, do remember that today Dilma Rouseff is running a regime more focused on getting commercial deals for large companies which back the "socialists" because they happen to be pragmatically pro-business. And Humala in Peru already said he didn't want to be associated with Chavez, Correa, or the rest of the ALBA mafia.

[Magnetonium]

Magnetorium, I laugh my arse off when I hear the Chavistas call Capriles "the candidate of the right". Capriles is an interesting character, he's part Jewish, from a fairly upscale family, but was put in jail by Chavez for a while, and seems to have a genuine religious conviction to share and share alike. I consider him a leftist, but more like Ollanta Humala or Dilma Rouseff, rather than a megalomaniac and fascist like Chavez, for whom communism is just a vehicle to introduce populist measures that give him absolute power.

I don't know if you speak Spanish, but listening to these guys talk gives one an insight that's impossible to get reading about them. For example, Chavez got on the radio two days ago to call on the people to come see him in Valencia, and implied he wanted them to come in "with frenzy" to cheer for him. THe guy is truly going nuts.

However, before you get your little red flag and start waving it with happy thoughts about Capriles being a marxist, do remember that today Dilma Rouseff is running a regime more focused on getting commercial deals for large companies which back the "socialists" because they happen to be pragmatically pro-business. And Humala in Peru already said he didn't want to be associated with Chavez, Correa, or the rest of the ALBA mafia.

I don't wave red flags and I am far from being Marxist or communist for that matter. I immigrated from Eastern Europe to escape that bullshit. You don't know that much about me. Also, my internet handle is Magnetonium and not Magnetorium. Or Mag for short.

I just couldn't help but point out that Capriles is a leftist, which just shows that leftist policies are popular in Venezuela. He has a slightly different program for Venezuela that may actually be able to win him the elections. He is obviously not the candidate of the right - he is the candidate of the entire Venezuelan opposition, and there are many parties. Looks like a promising young politician.

[Smertios]

Capriles is definitely a leftist. That's not news, really. He has always said that Lula is one of his biggest inspirations. Though recently he has stopped doing that, since Lula is a lot closer to Chavez than himself.

And there is nothing wrong with having two leftist candidates running. Brazil hasn't had a right-wing candidate in the second round of presidential elections pretty much ever since 1989. The two main 'presidential' parties in Brazil are in the center-left. PT is a social-democratic party with socialist tendencies. PSDB is a social-liberal party with some members on the right (liberals and christian democrats, mostly), and some members being social democrats. But it is mostly in the social-liberal region in the spectrum..

[Social_Critic]

OK, Mag, so you don't wave little red flags. That's good because people waving red flags make me ill. I'm researching a reason why this happens but I think I'll conclude it's a Pavlovian thing, I'm like a dog who got beat up by a guy wearing a red suit who looked like Ulianov in one of his bad hair days.

[Goldberk]

He seems more like a liberal or social democrat than a "leftist", and as such would be more of a disaster for the country than Chavez with all his faults is.

[Smertios]

He seems more like a liberal or social democrat than a "leftist", and as such would be more of a disaster for the country than Chavez with all his faults is.

He is definitely not a 'liberal' in the South American context, where 'liberalism' basically means 'neoliberalism', 'capitalism' and 'conservative liberalism'. And a social democrat is leftist... Social democracy = liberal socialism, basically...

[Goldberk]

He seems to believe in capitalism, a version constrained by the state to serve society, he is for civil and political rights and freedoms. He is a liberal. Only a person of the right would consider social democracy a left wing philosophy, it is a liberal philosophy.

[Social_Critic]

My analysis shows Goldberk (apparently) thinks Chavez would make the better president for Venezuela. Given Chavez' record, and his tendency towards fascist militarism and megalomania, I do wonder where Goldberk gets his ideas. To top it off, Chavez has been in charge for two full presidential terms and had the Constitution changed to get himself re-elected, but he has cancer, and refuses to disclose its nature. We do know he got it, it was operated, he said he was cured, it returned, he was operated again, and he can't walk normally anymore. Some say he's terminal and is only trying to hang on to hand power over to somebody like Maduro, the ex-bus driver.

[Quantum]

According to Wikipedia, Capriles and his party are centre-right but is inspired by Lulismo and humanism. Is Capriles slavishly pro-Washington, in the sense of selling his country out to Washington like many Latin American leaders have done, or will he pursue pro-Latin American foreign policies like Lula and CFK?

[Goldberk]

Given Chavez' record, and his tendency towards fascist militarism and megalomania, I do wonder where Goldberk gets his ideas.

Because with all those faults (that you wildly exaggerate) he is better than a 100% liberal.

[Smertios]

selling his country

I love biased leftist views. A pro-Washington foreign policy is "selling the country", but a pro-Moscow one, like Chavez is doing, is not.

Countries like Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico are doing anything other than selling their countries right now. And depending on the result of next year's elections, Paraguay might follow their path and actually start developing, instead of becoming another political hellhole like Venezuela or Argentina..

EDIT: And by the way, Caprile's party is called 'Primero Justicia' and is a social liberal party, and hence, center-left...

[Gletkin]

"Left", "center" and "right" are all relative terms.
If Capriles is indeed more like Lula or Humala, he could be exactly what Venezuela needs at this time.

[Social_Critic]

Is Capriles slavishly pro-Washington, in the sense of selling his country out to Washington like many Latin American leaders have done, or will he pursue pro-Latin American foreign policies like Lula and CFK?

I don't think this comment has much to do with anything. The pro-Washington anti-Washington and selling out his country mantra is a leftist piece which doesn't really carry much weight anymore. A quality Latin American president has to look out for his country's interests, and this could indeed being "Pro-Washington" if this involves backing the USA when it comes to issues such as say bashing Syria and Iran.

I'm pro-Palestinian, therefore I don't like Washington's servile attitude towards Israel, but I also understand perfectly well a country has to do what it can do, and punch its weight. Therefore making stupid comments about Israel like Chavez does is not very productive. Evidently a quality government seeks foreign investment, and will provide the environment for foreign investors to pour the money in, specifically in projects and tangible investments rather than buying up stocks.

So if this is pro-Washington, so be it. Beats being pro-Belarus, pro-Syria, and pro-Iran, which is what CHavez has been doing.

Regarding liberal, that sure sounds fine to me as well. I know leftoids think liberal is like anti Christ, but liberalism sure beats communism and its cousins hands down.

[Quantum]

I love biased leftist views. A pro-Washington foreign policy is "selling the country", but a pro-Moscow one, like Chavez is doing, is not.

Disliking Washington is not a 'leftist' position at all, nor am I a 'leftist'. It's a position that is held by people of all political persuasions who dislike its pervasive and negative influence on the world. If Chavez was a right-wing populist, I'd support him merely because he doesn't tow the Washington line, just like de Gaulle didn't when he removed American bases from France. I'm not a fan of Moscow either but their influence is much less pervasive and negative than Washington.

Countries like Chile, Peru, Colombia and Mexico are doing anything other than selling their countries right now. And depending on the result of next year's elections, Paraguay might follow their path and actually start developing, instead of becoming another political hellhole like Venezuela or Argentina..

That has more to do with their economic policies than not bowing down to Washington.

You know, there's other first-world countries worth emulating that are less socially dysfunctional than America, such as France and Germany, especially the latter because of its robust manufacturing sector has been largely unaffected by the Euro crisis. America is not the be all and end all of everything and people need to stop worshiping everything related to that country.

[Social_Critic]

Quantum, I think we got a problem here, because this post was about the Venezuelan elections and Capriles, not really about Washington or US imperialism. Evidently some people don't like US foreign policy, or don't like Americans, or whatever. But to support an asshole like Chavez merely because he says he's anti American does show a serious disconnect from this discussion topic. This really isn't about the US at all. I think the OP is pretty clear, Capriles is turning out to be a very viable candidate, and Chavez is scared.

Given that Chavez has a terminal cancer, then the issue for the Venezuelan people would seem to be whether they think Capriles can bring a stable government with policies that are good for the electorate using a left of center neoliberal style policy, versus whether Chavez's successor can be like Chavez or even improve upon him while trying to install a communist system. And this has really nothing to do with "being anti Washington" or viceversa. The being anti Washington mantra Chavez sells is mostly intended for outside consumption, because most Venezuelans don't give a hoot about things like that.

[Moshe]

Capriles looks like being a very good challenger to Chavez.
Venezualians have long been sick Chavez' demagogary, but have not wanted to back right wing politicos.
Chavez supporters have tried everything against Capriles. Because of his Jewish ancestry, some have even resorted to terming him a "christ killer" or a "zionist".
But Venezualians have got sick of this nonsense from Chavez, and many are fed up with his infatuation with Iran and obsession with middle east polotics.
Chavez is considered a "leftist", but his polotics are an odd mixture borrowed from his idol Mao Tse Tung mixed with the far right polotics of Islamists of an Iranian stripe and a particuarly bizarre take on Catholicsm

[Social_Critic]

Moshe, I've had discussions with my buddy Kurt about Chavez being a fascist.

I don't think bringing the Israeli-Palestinian conflict into this thread helps matters, by the way. Being fascist comes easy to all religions, including Judaism (I'd say Avigdor Lieberman is an Israeli neo-fascist, for example). Fascism even comes easy to atheists (Hitler), and of course to Chavez, who is far from being a Catholic - Chavez only got religion when he found out he had terminal cancer, but he's probably more into Santeria and the Cult of Maria Lionza. They say he had Bolivar's remains taken out of the tomb to practice Santeria with them, but it backfired and Bolivar's ghost gave him cancer.

Anyway, that's sort off topic. The key is that indeed Capriles sure sounds a lot more normal than Chavez, and is definitely more measured with his tongue. Like I wrote many times here, Chavez says the most awful things on TV, he's coarse, and lately he is sounding more like the megalomaniac nut he really is.

[Moshe]

Social Critic wrote: "The key is that indeed Capriles sure sounds a lot more normal than Chavez, and is definitely more measured with his tongue."
I agree with you on this. Chavez is extremely crude and comes out with the most bizarre statements.
I don't know if Chavez considers himself to be a Roman Catholic, but he certainly uses Catholic imagery in his wilder outbursts. Remember his Christmas speech early in his presidency when he put down all the evils in the world to "Christ Killers".
He alignment with Islamist radicalism is another oddity of his

[Social_Critic]

I think Chavez is one of those guys who thinks a man should be able to run a country on his own, with absolulte power. This makes him get friendly with all sorts of dictators, strongmen, and tyrants. Chavez also has a really weird attitude about the US. It's not like the US really noticed the guy when he was growing up, but somehow his attachment to Fidel Castro got him into the anti-American side of the force. So this makes him root for Arab and Muslim dictators who happen to dislike the US, like the Iranian Amahdinejad.

Chavez seems to draw the line with the North Koreans, but the North Koreans are pretty weird, the fat boy who inherited the throne, Yong Un or whatever is his name, seems to like dancing with Disney figures and shit like that, so no way Chavez is going to visit, imagine if the guy throws him a show with Daffy Duck and Sponge Bob singing a capella? Chavez would croak. So he sticks to the known factors, take the Syrians, they are reliable, they will murder and torture but they do it steady like, and when they bomb they only drop a few bombs and on a regular schedule. That's what Chavez likes, friends who do evil with a steady hand, even if he's the most bombastic, foul mouthed, and undisciplined idiot to ever rule a country since Idi Amin Dada got kicked out of Uganda.