Juan Pablo Guanipa is the first victim of the opposition primary campaign. As emblematic candidate for Primero Justicia (PJ), Guanipa has dropped his pretensions to become the unitary opposition candidate running for Maracaibo Mayor's Office. Speaking in public, Guanipa explains the reason for his decision, alleging that the polls are not on his side. He moves aside for heavyweight contender, current Zulia State governor and leader of the Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party, Manuel Rosales. The move has had a knock-on effect because in San Francisco municipality Villapol Morales has moved aside in favor of Angel Sanchez, while Saady Bijani has given way to Pablo Perez. Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) president, Omar Barboza says the opposition will announce the names of all opposition unitary candidates between June 30 and July 15. Barboza confirms that the UNT will support the candidacy of Roberto Smith to the state governorship of Vargas and actress Fabiola Colmenarez to the municipality of Vargas. The party already supports Andres Velazquez in Bolivar State, Eduardo Morales in Sucre, Enrique Mendoza in Miranda and Lester Rodriguez in Merida.
The Consumer Defense Institute (Indecu) has made it clear that it will penalize private educational institutes with fines of up to 3000 tax units, if they increase enrolment and monthly fees above the 15% established in the Gaceta Oficial No. 38,957. Indecu president, Eduardo Saman says education is service of prime necessity and his office will be alert to any complaints on the part of parents regarding abuses in enrolment and monthly fees.
The Organisation of American States (OAS) will hold its first debate on the Return Directive issued by the European Union Parliament regarding illegal immigrants. The complaint was initiated by President Chavez a week ago and one by one Latin American countries have been following his lead condemning the directive, which contemplates the return of a third country illegal immigrants to their country of origin, the possibility of being retained in detention centers for more than 15 months and the refusal for them to return to Europe before five years. The most recent government to denounce the directive is the Peruvian government. Brazil's Lula da Silva issued a strong condemnation on Tuesday.
Comptroller General, Clodosbaldo Russian has called corruption "social terrorism" and reiterated the need to fight the scourge. The fight against corruption, Russian states, is inherent in a revolutionary process and for that reason there is no excuse for not exercising citizen control. "Citizens have never been able to exercise vigilance over public resources as they are able to do now." Russian is replying to attacks by opposition media for his decision to uphold the ban against some officials involved in administrative corruption stopping them from taking part in the upcoming regional elections. Lawyers are urged to show solidarity with the homeland, respect for the National Constitution, promoting popular power, and a sincere commitment to public ethics and administrative morality.
The Sudanese government has received the diplomatic credentials of Javier Merayo as Venezuelan business attache. Sudanese Foreign Minister, Deng Alor says the presence of Venezuela will strengthen relations of cooperation between the two countries and highlights the fact that both nations have similarities starting with they both being situated in the South. Merayo, for his part, told the Foreign Minister that relations between the two countries has increased rapidly since 2005.
The Archbishop of Caracas, Jorge Urosa Savino has called on clergymen to abstain from taking part in political activities and using religious ceremonies during party political events. The Archbishop takes exception to a religious ceremony that took place during the visit of Paraguayan President-Elect, Fernando Lugo last week. In a communique, the Archbishop complains that he was not consulted about the Catholic religious ceremony to pray for and bless Lugo, adding that it should have been done in another place and environment and not broadcast to the country on television. Clarifying the ecclesiastical status of the President-elect, the document points out that Lugo voluntarily and publicly renounced his episcopal ministry to run as presidential candidate and has been penalized by the Holy See for assuming purely political functions. "He has requested to be dispensed of his priestly commitment and is not longer an active bishop of the Catholic Church."
Patrick J. O'Donoghue
patrick.vheadline@gmail.com
No comments:
Post a Comment