The opposition gets back to the streets in Venezuela

Well, the opposition dared today to start shaking up its lethargy and took to the streets to march to the CNE. The objective is to protest the stacked electoral registry and the oncoming fraud. Although certainly not of the amplitude of previous marches it is a good turnout for a first one after the trauma of August 15.

The government of course has decided to block access to the CNE, where apparently the only ones allow to offer grievances are chavista supporters when they think that the CNE does not favor them enough. A small commission will be "allowed" to go to the CNE to put the claim. Globovision just showed on TV the ridiculous display of force by the National Guard that reminds us quite a lot of the Nazional Guard of February 27. But the opposition keeps advancing in a festive interest and we will see what will happen as the clash is eminent.

Now, can someone remind me or explain to me why an administration that just received an alleged 60% popular support, that controls everything except the media, acts as if a few thousand people armed with only whistles and flags are about to overthrow everything?

More later.

Here comes the later, 7 PM

Of course chavismo could not help it and with people that now bring down statues as acts of outmost heroics, it was only too predictable that a handful of thugs manage to go to the head of the march and attack it. Apparently the Nazional Guard solved the issue by throwing tear gas to the marchers and not trying to arrest the attackers. So, what else is new since February 27? Diosdado Cabello can go with his march to Plaza Las Americas, in the anti Chavez heartland but chavismo cannot tolerate the opposition to go past the Plaza Venezuela (though according to their "results" the SI won in some areas of downtown Caracas).

Meanwhile Alfredo Peña, the Mayor at large of Caracas has decided to step down from the electoral run to retain his office. This is a rather confusing thing to interpret. As far as I know he was leading in the polls, in spite of AD's Fermin run dividing the opposition. Peña is too savvy to retire his candidacy just like that (1). And Mendoza seems on the verge to do so in Miranda. Is the opposition ready to make a move? This blogger confess that although he usually can come up with some explanation for everything this time he is a little bit taken aback. Is the Alvarez report that strong that the opposition expects some international reaction? Is this a way to remobilize the opposition after a more successful than expected march?

Even Sobella Mejias seems to have awakened today. She bluntly accused the real CNE president, Rodriguez, of serious administrative irregularities that she should now be obliged to sustain or resign. Perhaps AD is finally smelling the coffe and realizing that it would be the main victim of the electoral fraud as more than 50% of the townhalls that would be lost are into AD hands.

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(1) Barreto, the chavista candidate and someone that strangely reminds me of a tropical Goering, promptly made some absolutely inappropriate declarations. One of the reasons for Peña run for office was to bar access to Caracas mayor at large was to bar office to Barreto one of the most despicable characters within chavismo. He is notoriously homophobic, misogynist, xenophobic, vulgar etc, etc...