Voters in the home state of Venezuela’s late President Hugo Chávez have picked an opposition candidate for governor in a closely watched special election.
Sergio Garrido, candidate for the U.S.-backed opposition, defeated former foreign minister Jorge Arreaza, whose campaign drew ruling party heavy hitters in an all-out effort to keep the bastion of Chavismo under their control. The candidates campaigned for roughly five weeks after the country’s highest court disqualified opposition candidate Freddy Superlano and the special contest was scheduled.
Also running was Claudio Fermin, an opposition dissident. But for the first time in more than two decades, no member of Chávez’s family was on the ballot in the northwestern state. Barinas has long been a bastion of Chavismo, with his brother Argenis Chávez, brother Adán Chávez and father Hugo de los Reyes Chávez all serving stints as governor since 1998.
Billboards and other advertisements for Arreaza could be seen across the state, and to a lesser extent, those of Fermin’s campaign. But Garrido’s advertising presence was virtually nonexistent. Before dawn Sunday, government leaders and ruling-party supporters gathered in a rally. “Chávez lives, and in Barinas, the homeland continues!” they chanted.
Malaysia Latest News, Malaysia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
AP Week in Pictures: Global | AP NewsJAN. 1 - 7, 2022 From Orthodox Christians celebration of Christmas Mass, to New Year's fireworks lighting up the skies globally, to U.S. President Joe Biden's plea for democracy on the one year anniversary of the Jan.
Read more »
GOP Sen. John Thune of South Dakota says he'll seek 4th term | AP NewsSIOUX FALLS, S.D. (AP) — U.S. Sen. John Thune of South Dakota, the second-ranking Republican leader in the Senate, announced Saturday he is seeking reelection to a fourth term in 2022. Thune, who turned 61 on Friday, has mulled retiring from the Senate for months.
Read more »
Kazakhstan says 164 killed in week of protests | AP NewsMOSCOW (AP) — Kazakhstan's health ministry said Sunday that 164 people have been killed in protests that have rocked the country over the past week. The figures reported on the state news channel Khabar-24 are a significant rise from previous tallies.
Read more »
Biden shied away from news conferences, interviews in Year 1 | AP NewsWASHINGTON (AP) — In what's become a familiar scene President Joe Biden lingered after delivering a recent speech on the pandemic as reporters fired a barrage of questions. He bristled at a query about the shortage of COVID-19 rapid tests, answered another about omicron-spurred travel restrictions and sidestepped a third about whether Sen.
Read more »
China foreign minister in Sri Lanka to discuss Belt and Road | AP NewsCOLOMBO, Sri Lanka (AP) — Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was in Sri Lanka on Sunday seeking to advance Beijing's ambitious Belt and Road Initiative as the island nation tries to rescue itself from a foreign currency and debt crisis, partly due to infrastructure built with Chinese loans that don’t generate revenue.
Read more »
UN: Sudan talks will aim to salvage political transition | AP NewsThe United Nations says it will hold talks in Sudan aimed at salvaging a fragile democratic transition. The announcement comes amid a grinding stalemate following an October coup and the prime minister’s resignation last week.
Read more »