Opposition leaders participating in their first public, televised debate on Monday pledged radical changes if elected and pitched proposals to resolve Venezuela’s most pressing domestic problems ranging from rampant crime to high unemployment.
The debate featured hopefuls Diego Arria, Pablo Perez, Leopoldo Lopez, Miranda Governor Henrique Capriles and Maria Corina Machado. They took turns slamming the policies of Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez and blaming his socialist ideology for many of the country’s woes.
The panelists criticized Chavez in particular for failing to effectively fight crime, which Venezuelans identify in surveys as the South American nation’s worst problem.
“I want to be president because I don’t want anybody falling dead due to violence,” said Capriles, who leads most recent polls among possible opposition candidates.
Arria said he would fight crime by attacking drug trafficking, adding that cocaine smuggling has led to widespread corruption within the military and drug addiction among increasing numbers of youngsters.
All of the hopefuls condemned what they said was Chavez’s insatiable thirst for power. They promised to take steps to ensure the country’s next leader does not wield unbridled power by enabling other institutions such as the Venezuelan Supreme Court to effectively check the executive’s influence.
Arria proposed the election of a special assembly to make constitutional reforms, including one reducing presidential terms from six to three years.
Monday’s debate, organized by university students, was the first such parley in decades involving presidential aspirants.
Chavez, who has been fighting cancer, was not invited to participate. Since his first election in 1999, Chavez has declined debate challenges from his opponents.
At least two other debates are planned before a coalition of opposition parties holds a Feb. 12 primary election to choose a single presidential candidate and challengers to the socialist leader’s allies in gubernatorial and municipal elections.
Lopez avoided questions aimed at identifying the winner of the debate.
“Venezuela won with this debate,” Lopez said. “Debates must be organized because they are necessary to know what the proposals, ideas are, and we’ll more forward together.”
Mario Silva, a close Chavez confidant and member of the ruling party, criticized all the debate’s participants, saying the only issue unifying opposition politicians from different parties is their desire to unseat Chavez and end his drive toward socialism.
“They all have the same plan: Put an end to the advances of the revolution,” Silva said, referring to Chavez’s left-leaning political movement.
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