Caracas Daily Journal (Jeremy Morgan): Zulia State Governor Manuel Rosales' opposition party, Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT), is accused of rushing the fences by naming contenders for November's regional elections, but Movement Towards Socialism (MAS) followed suit on Friday. Furthermore, the nominations included prominent figures identified with the Rosales camp, rather than MAS, most notably Mayor Leopoldo Lopez of the Chacao municipality in central Caracas as candidate for Metropolitan Mayor.
Talk is that while Lopez secured widespread opposition backing for this from the mainstream opposition including UNT, he and Rosales may not be keeping political company for much longer.
The problem is who follows Lopez in comfortable Chacao, arguably the cream of mayor's jobs in the country. UNT plumped for Lilian Hernandez without much ado, but not to Lopez' liking. He's backing Emilio Grateron, who's sworn to run on his own if UNT doesn't desist. There are whispers about Lopez moving across to Primero Justicia, to which he belonged before UNT.
Whether Primero Justicia, which has its own candidate for Chacao, Sonny Rosenthal, would welcome Lopez back is an open question. Local opposition activists mutter Lopez should put Chacao behind him and get on with pitching for the capital job.
Less controversially, MAS put its weight behind former Miranda State Governor Enrique Mendoza in his bid to try for his old job. Once from the Social Christian party, Copei, he's backed by UNT, too.
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