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Caracas, Aug 7 (Prensa Latina) The election of 5,999 local councilmen, a governor, and two mayors in Venezuela is taking place peacefully Sunday, with only normal, minor glitches, confirming the political advantage of President Hugo Chávez over both old and new opposition.
Movimiento V República (MVR), the umbrella group of parties backing Chávez, predicts a landslide 80 percent of the contested positions, although more conservative opinions predict a somewhat smaller margin of victory, but none lower than above 50 percent.
Total candidates are estimated at 38,757 from 906 parties, only one-third of which belong to MVR or allies who face a divided opposition, disoriented after seven years of Chávez electoral triumphs.
Like many countries, turnout is small in Venezuela in off-year elections (in 2000, 76.5 percent of voters failed to vote); nonetheless, the National Electoral Board has installed 9,270 voting booths in anticipation.
Unlike many countries, Venezuela invites international observers to local elections; one of whom, Eugenio Caligeri, remarked to Prensa Latina on the political serenity of the country and predicted a greater than usual showing.
Today's election begins a cycle of power renovation in Venezuela, which will continue with the December national congressional elections and the 2006 presidential election.
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