Quito, Oct 4 (Prensa Latina) Washington’s White House is behind Venezuelan rightwing Presidential Candidate Henrique Capriles, who receives advise to show a reformist, democratic and popular image, said the prominent U.S. sociologist James Petras.
In statements published in the digital newspaper El Ciudadano, the world-renowned intellectual pointed out that the candidate from Mesa de Unidad Democrática (MUD) enjoys “the unconditional support of the U.S. president (Barack Obama)”, in contrast to the popular support for President Hugo Chavez.
Petras added that the White House is advising Capriles on how to behave. “Capriles is presented as a good, reformist and hyper-energetic boy, who wants moderate change” for Venezuela.
The academic and author of several books said that, in fact, the rightwing candidate led “the mafia” that staged the coup d’etat against Chavez in 2002, and was a member of “the gang that attacked the Cuban Embassy” in Caracas at the time.
Petras recalled that Capriles also “supported the lockout by oil managers in 2003.”
Therefore, his stance as an alleged democrat is just a makeup, because he has a violent record always linked to the ultra-rightwing sectors.
The prestigious sociologist explained that the United States thinks that if Capriles loses the presidential elections on October 7 “by a significant margin, it will not denounce a fraud”, but it will consolidate the support he received for the election of governors in December this year.
So far, all opinion polls have shown that Chavez will be reelected next Sunday in Venezuela with an advantage of more than 15 points over Capriles.