2008 Venezuelan regional elections

none 2008 Venezuelan regional elections Venezuela regional no 2004 Venezuelan regional elections 2004 2008 11 23 y Venezuelan regional elections, 2012 2012 16,845,061 65.45% ( 19.75pp) Popular vote Percentage Swing Governors Governors +/– Great Patriotic Pole 5,758,494 52.10% 6.21pp 17 3 cc0000 Coalition for Democratic Unity 4,623,051 41.82% 2.50pp 5 3 0F52BA Elecciones regionales Venezuela (Densidad) 2008.svg Results by state. Red denotes states won by the Great Patriotic Pole. Blue denotes those won by the Coalition for Democratic Unity. Regional elections were held in Venezuela on 23 November 2008 to choose 22 governors and 2 metropolitan mayors. The candidates were selected for a term beginning in 2008 and ending in 2012, when the next regional elections will be held. The 2008 regional elections were the second during the government of Hugo Chávez Frías and the first since he founded the United Socialist Party.Rondón Espín Patricia Chávez funda Partido Socialista Unido para apoyar su revolución http://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTAN0229607220080303 Reuters América Latina Thomson Reuters Corporate 7 October 2012 United States es 3 March 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20181215223338/http://lta.reuters.com/article/domesticNews/idLTAN0229607220080303 15 December 2018 dead dmy-all The government of the state of Amazonas and nine municipalities were not chosen in this elections because they had been elected after the 2004 regional elections.Cargos Que No Se Eligen 2008 http://www.cne.gov.ve/elecciones/regionales2008/documentos/Cargos_que_no_se_eligen_2008.pdf PDF Dirección General de Estadísticas Electorales Consejo Nacional Electoral Caracas, Venezuela 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20090327090645/http://www.cne.gov.ve/elecciones/regionales2008/documentos/Cargos_que_no_se_eligen_2008.pdf 27 March 2009 8 October 2012 es The Venezuelan opposition managed to attain the metropolitan municipality of Caracas, won by candidate Antonio Ledezma, as well as five state governments; the United Socialist Party, meanwhile, won seventeen. Henrique Capriles Radonski, the former mayor of the Baruta municipality,H. Capriles Radonski http://www.talcualdigital.com/Nota/visor.aspx?id=66020&tipo=AVA Tal Cual Editorial La Mosca Analfabeta C.A Caracas, Venezuela 12 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120323234351/http://talcualdigital.com/Nota/visor.aspx?id=66020&tipo=AVA 23 March 2012 8 October 2012 es dead dmy-all became the governor of Miranda, defeating the incumbent, Diosdado Cabello. Adán Chávez, president Hugo Chavéz's brother,Todos ganan en Venezuela http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7745000/7745263.stm BBC Mundo British Broadcasting Corporation United Kingdom Chirinos Carlos 24 November 2008 https://web.archive.org/web/20081203232406/http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/spanish/latin_america/newsid_7745000/7745263.stm 3 December 2008 8 October 2012 es became the governor of Barinas. In Carabobo, Henrique Salas Feo, the son of former presidential candidate Henrique Salas Römer, defeated his opponent Mario Silva to become the governor. Pablo Pérez Álvarez became the governor Zulia; he succeeded Manuel Rosales, who had governed from 2000 until 2008 and was a presidential candidate in 2006.Zulia State Government https://web.archive.org/web/20070117182824/http://www.gobernaciondelzulia.gov.ve/lista2.asp?sec=1103 17 January 2007 http://www.gobernaciondelzulia.gov.ve/lista2.asp?sec=1103 Curriculum del gobernador 2007 8 October 2012 es Background After losing the 2004 Venezuelan recall referendum, the opposition became determined to participate in the 2008 elections.Comandante: The Life and Legacy of Hugo Chavez Rory Carroll Canongate Books 2013 9780857861535 153-155 Prior to the elections, the General Comptroller, a Chávez ally, banned almost 300 candidates who had been accused of corruption without making formal charges. Leopoldo López, a rising figure within the opposition who raised fears among the Chávez administration, was one of the hundreds of candidates barred from holding office. The Supreme Tribunal later ratified the bans and removed the candidates from the process.http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/venezuela/5877.html Venezuelan Supreme Court Ratifies Candidate Disqualifications as Constitutional Wilpert Gregory 6 August 2008 8 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20081120170409/http://www.globalexchange.org/countries/americas/venezuela/5877.html 20 November 2008 Global Exchangehttp://www.stratfor.com/podcast/venezuela_cracks_showing_chavezs_control Venezuela: Cracks Showing in Chavez's Control 6 August 2008 8 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20080903131145/http://www.stratfor.com/podcast/venezuela_cracks_showing_chavezs_control 3 September 2008 Stratfor Global Intelligencehttp://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/11/24/2003429462 Venezuelans local polls a popularity test for Chavez 24 November 2008 Taipei Times 8 October 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20100329101118/http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/world/archives/2008/11/24/2003429462 29 March 2010 Liberty Times Group Taiwan In early January 2008, some opposition political parties expressed their willingness to sign a unitary agreement to run in the regional elections of November of that year.6 December 2008 Globovision.com - UNT propuso la unión y el consenso para las próximas elecciones http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=76738 https://web.archive.org/web/20081206031125/http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=76738 6 December 2008 21 July 201821 July 2018 Copei insiste a la oposición en pactar la unidad http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/21/pol_ava_copei-insiste-a-la-o_21A1313847.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080123181631/http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/21/pol_ava_copei-insiste-a-la-o_21A1313847.shtml 23 January 2008 21 July 2018 El Universal es21 July 2018 MAS insta a oposición a unir esfuerzos con miras a elecciones regionales http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/21/pol_ava_mas-insta-a-oposicio_21A1313869.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080123181636/http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/21/pol_ava_mas-insta-a-oposicio_21A1313869.shtml 23 January 2008 21 July 2018 El Universal es On 23 January, in commemoration of the 50th anniversary of the return of democracy to Venezuela, the coalition of National Unity (later known as the Democratic Unity Roundtable) was created, formed by the political parties A New Era (UNT), Justice First (PJ), Democratic Action (AD), Copei, Movement For Socialism (MAS), Radical Cause, Project Venezuela (PRVZL), Fearless People's Alliance (ABP) and Popular Vanguard (VP), reached an agreement committing to present joint candidates in all the states and municipalities of the country.21 July 2018 Candidatos unitarios ya tienen acuerdo de país para campaña http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/24/pol_art_candidatos-unitarios_684760.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080126112404/http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/24/pol_art_candidatos-unitarios_684760.shtml 26 January 2008 21 July 2018 El Universal es Other political parties representing the more radical opposition such as Alianza Popular, Comando Nacional de la Resistencia and Frente Patriótico denounced at the beginning that they were excluded from the agreement.21 July 2018 Oswaldo Álvarez Paz denuncia que su organización no fue incluida en pacto unitario http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/25/pol_ava_oswaldo-alvarez-paz_25A1331119.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080128175301/http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/01/25/pol_ava_oswaldo-alvarez-paz_25A1331119.shtml 28 January 2008 21 July 2018 El Universal es With the document, called National Unity Agreement, they expected to seek unitary candidacies for the regional elections, besides proposing ten national objectives of their "vision of the country".27 January 2008 Globovision.com - Propuesta de Un Acuerdo de Unidad Nacional "La Alternativa para el Cambio", firmado por las organizaciones políticas de oposición el 23 de enero de 2008 http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=76943 https://web.archive.org/web/20080127122415/http://www.globovision.com/news.php?nid=76943 27 January 2008 21 July 2018 The agreement also created a set of rules regarding decisions, including decisions being made by a majority of 3/5ths of members or 70% of the popular vote during election processes, the process to determine a joint candidate either through majority or a primary election and a unified policy framework.Jiménez Maryhen February 2023 Contesting Autocracy: Repression and Opposition Coordination in Venezuela Political Studies 71 1 47–68 10.1177/0032321721999975 236367812 free Many For Social Democracy (Podemos) leaders expressed their support to the presentation of joint candidacies with the Unity, such as Ricardo Gutiérrez and Ernesto Paraqueima, announcing that they would support the candidacies of the above mentioned agreement for governorships and mayorships.Plataforma Bolivariana https://www.nodo50.org/plataformabolivariana/Documentacion/Documentos/ER2008-TriunfoPSUV.htm 22 July 2018 www.nodo50.org7 May 2008 El Nuevo Día - Podemos dispuesto a apoyar candidato opositor demócrata http://elnuevodia.com.ve/content/view/30422/2/ https://web.archive.org/web/20080507152159/http://elnuevodia.com.ve/content/view/30422/2/ 7 May 2008 22 July 2018 Ismael García, secretary general of Podemos and deputy for Aragua, announced on 29 April the support of his party to opposition candidates in the states of Lara and Miranda as well as in the Metropolitan District of Caracas for the regional elections.22 July 2018 Podemos apoyará a candidatos opositores http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/04/29/pol_art_podemos-apoyara-a-ca_840025.shtml dead https://web.archive.org/web/20080502125031/http://www.eluniversal.com/2008/04/29/pol_art_podemos-apoyara-a-ca_840025.shtml 2 May 2008 22 July 2018 El Universal esLF Angosto (2009), Bolívar, espejo de la revolución: los comicios regionales de 2008 en Venezuela Candidates The following list shows the three main candidates according to their political affiliation (government, opposition and dissident or independent) ordered by number of votes attained. The political affiliation is determined by the political parties supporting each candidate. For the 2008 elections, government candidates were supported by the United Socialist Party; opposition candidates were supported by either Justice First, Democratic Action or the Political Electoral Independent Organization Committee parties; and independent candidates were mostly supported by regional parties. Metropolitan mayors Indicates the winning candidate + Metropolitan mayorship winners and candidates with affiliation, percentage and number of votes attained Metropolitan Area Affiliation Candidate % VotesCaracas Opposition Antonio Ledezma 52.40 722,822 W Government Aristóbulo Istúriz 44.94 619,622 Independent Augusto Uribe 1.97 27,281Alto Apure Government Jorge Rodriguez 55.92 21,381 W Independent Elfar Angarita 20.86 7,979 Opposition Ignacio Barrillas 20.21 7,728 Governors thumb|right|Antonio Ledezma became the mayor of the Metropolitan municipality of Caracas, defeating Aristóbulo Istúriz.|200px|alt=A white man with gray-shaded hair and lens talking with his mouth half-opened 200px|thumbnail|right|Henrique Capriles Radonski, whom became presidential candidate in 2012, defeated former vice-president and governor Diosdado Cabello to become the governor for the Miranda state.|alt=A man smiling while wearing a hat with the colours of the Venezuelan flag: red, blue and yellow. 200px|thumbnail|right|Pablo Pérez Álvarez defeated his adversary Gian Carlo di Martino and succeeded Manuel Rosales as governor of the Zulia state.|alt=A black suited man talking to an audience in front of a microphone Indicates the winning candidate + Governorship winners and candidates with affiliation, percentage and number of votes attained State Affiliation Candidate % VotesAnzoátegui Government Tarek William Saab 55.09 311,344 W Opposition Gustavo Marcano 40.49 228,814 Independent Benjamín Rausseo 3.34 18,879Apure Government Jesús Aguilarte 56.97 89,823 W Opposition Miriam de Montilla 26.43 41,673 Independent Rafael Rojas 6.85 10,813Aragua Government Rafael Isea 58.92 382,845 W Opposition Henry Rosales 39.81 258,684 Independent Luis Zapata 0.65 4,245Barinas Government Adán Chávez 50.48 148,353 W Independent Julio César Reyes 43.95 129,143 Opposition Rafael Jiménez 4.93 14,506Bolívar Government Francisco Rangel Gómez 47.38 210,511 W Opposition Andrés Velásquez 30.69 136,378 Independent Antonio Rojas Suarez 14.8 65,748Carabobo Opposition Henrique Salas Feo 47.50 407,520 W Government Mario Silva 44.52 381,950 Independent Luis Felipe Acosta Carlez 6.56 56,290Cojedes Government Teodoro Bolívar 52.44 68,903 W Opposition Alberto Galíndez 39.59 52,015 Independent Gonzalo Mujica 6.70 8,812Delta Amacuro Government Lizeta Hernández 55.80 36,965 W Independent Pedro Santaella 25.23 16,716 Opposition Amado Heredia 14.45 9,578Falcón Government Stella Lugo 55.36 202,438 W Opposition José Gregorio Graterol 44.40 162,359 Independent Jhonny Tovar 0.16 615Guárico Government Willian Lara 52.54 147,796 W Independent Lenny Manuitt 33.20 93.393 Opposition Reynaldo Armas 13.42 37,759Lara Government Henri Falcón 73.52 448,536 W Opposition Pedro Pablo Alcántara 14.58 88,948 Independent Fredy Andrade 8.89 54,251Mérida Government Marcos Díaz Orellana 55.04 196,667 W Opposition Williams Dávila 44.70 159,728 Independent María Díaz 0.25 906Miranda Opposition Henrique Capriles Radonski 53.11 583,795 W Government Diosdado Cabello 46.10 506,753 Independent Blanca Tamara Vargas 0.53 5,832Monagas Government José Gregorio Briceño 64.86 204,857 W Opposition Domingo Urbina 15.02 47,437 Independent Ramon Fuentes 12.88 40,684Nueva Esparta Opposition Morel Rodríguez 57.53 112,516 W Government William Fariñas 41.80 81,756 Independent Nelson Silva 0.48 955Portuguesa Government Wilmar Castro 58.22 185,271 W Opposition Jobito Villegas 26.93 85,707 Independent Bella Petrizzo 14.49 46,110Sucre Government Enrique Maestre 56.51 204,665 W Opposition Eduardo Morales Gil 42.21 152,870 Independent Armiche Padrón 0.58 2,110Táchira Opposition César Pérez Vivas 49.46 240,478 W Government Leonardo Salcedo 48.12 233,995 Independent Rosa Velazco 1.28 6,242Trujillo Government Hugo Cabezas 59.96 170,770 W Opposition Enrique Catalán 26.30 74,905 Independent Octaviano Mejía 13.22 37,666Vargas Government Jorge García Carneiro 61.57 83,937 W Opposition Roberto Smith 32.19 44,939 Independent Carlos Mayora 2.81 3,925Yaracuy Government Julio León 57.83 130,659 W Opposition Filippo Lapi 28.91 65,313 Independent Edward Capdevielle 9.97 22,534Zulia Opposition Pablo Pérez Álvarez 53.34 776,372 W Government Gian Carlo di Martino 45.26 658,724 Independent Saady Bijani 0.71 10,423 Aftermath According to the American think tank Freedom House, from this election forward Venezuela ceased to be an electoral democracy,Freedom in the World report: Venezuela, 2009 in part due to the disqualification of hundreds of opposition candidates on corruption charges by stating that "the separation of powers is nearly nonexistent" in Venezuela. According to journalist Rory Carroll, Chávez anticipated that the disqualifications would divide the opposition, though the opposition unified instead. After opposition candidate Antonio Ledezma was elected mayor of the Metropolitan district of Caracas, colectivo leader and Chávez ally Lina Ron occupied Caracas' city hall with the support of authorities. Chávez would later establish a "capital district" that remove mayoral powers from Ledezma. References General Divulgación Elecciones Regionales 2008 http://www.cne.gov.ve/divulgacion_regionales_2008/index.php?e=00&m=00&p=00&c=00&t=00&ca=00&v=00, 23 November 2008 7 October 2012 Dirección General de Estadísticas Electorales Consejo Nacional Electoral Caracas, Venezuela 12 February 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120212075139/http://www.cne.gov.ve/divulgacion_regionales_2008/index.php?e=00&m=00&p=00&c=00&t=00&ca=00&v=00, es live dmy-all Specific 2 Further reading Surprising lessons from Venezuela's 2008 election http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2008553815_opin24hildes.html Larry Hildes and Karen Weill 23 December 2008 25 October 2012 Seattle Times The Seattle Times Company United States 20 June 2018 https://web.archive.org/web/20180620153956/http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2008553815_opin24hildes.html live dmy-all Carroll Rory Chavez party dominates in Venezuela regional elections https://www.theguardian.com/world/2008/nov/24/venezuela-regional-elections 24 November 2008 25 October 2012 The Guardian Guardian News and Media United Kingdom 27 December 2009 https://web.archive.org/web/20091227105720/http://www.guardian.co.uk/world/2008/nov/24/venezuela-regional-elections live dmy-all Category:2008 elections in South America Category:2008 in Venezuela 2008 Category:November 2008 in South America