From the United Socialist Party of Venezuela to the National Electoral Council. Most of the National Assembly allowed no room for surprises and selected Congresswoman Tania D'Amelio and former minister Socorro Hernández yesterday to be principal rectors of the CNE. Before becoming rectors, D'Amelio and Hernandez served in the PSUV. Nevertheless, as soon as their nominations to the CNE were formalised, they recused their prior memberships. Now, alongside Tibisay Lucena, Vicente Diaz and Sandra Oblitas, they will form leadership of the body. Germán Yépez, who was aspiring to repeat in office, remained on track. Congressman Mario Isea, leader of the socialist bloc, was asked to swear in Hernandez. Isea stressed "the technical ability, courage and commitment" shown by Hernandez "when she had to help rescue the electronic brain of PDVSA."
Russian diplomat Vladimir Zaemskiy told reporters that Russia is working with the Venezuelan authorities toward the "transfer of high technology to create production lines" of Kalashnikov AK-103s and its cartridges, according to the state-run Bolivarian News Agency (ABN). The weapons and ammunition factory will be in the coastal state of Aragua, said ABN. Zaemskiy said the Venezuelan government is about to finalise a series of contracts for the purchase of 53 helicopters of the Mi model. In 2005, Venezuela signed an agreement to acquire 53 Mi helicopters which started arriving in the country in 2006. The diplomat defended the purchase of Russian weapons by President Chávez's government, arguing that "military-style cooperation between Russia and Venezuela is developing under the same rules governing other cases, because as in other countries, Venezuela's armed forces have to renew their weapons and equipment."
Judges issued an injunction for the former governor of Anzoátegui at 5:30 yesterday afternoon. After appearing for the second time before Barcelona courts, David De Lima received an order to appear in court every eight days. Unable to prove that the defendant refused to appear in court, the Anzoátegui judge presiding over the case issued an order to appear. At 6:00 pm yesterday, the former governor and his legal representatives left the courthouse smiling after De Lima came out free from blame. Luis Edgardo Mata said there was not sufficient evidence to establish that his client wanted to escape justice. "We submitted a petition to review the warrant, because from the 78 instances in which my client appeared in court, we know this is an effort of the regional government," he said. De Lima said that his client sensed political persecution, but De Lima advised him not to be afraid, because "the truth always prevails."
Zulia residents not only have to deal with the rationing of water and electricity. Now they must also overcome restrictions on fuel supplies. This week the Ministry of Energy and Petroleum (Menpet) published a statement through which maximum quotas were set for the sale of gasoline at four stations in the capital of Zulia. The Internal Market Directorate of Menpet ordered distribution and marketing managers in PDVSA to implement the measure at the selected pumps. Eduardo Vale, Copei general secretary in Maracaibo, denounced the fact that the service stations were already "rationing gasoline sales." "By order of the Ministry and PDVSA they may sell only three bolivars' worth of gasoline to light vehicles and five bolivars' worth of gasoline to heavy vehicles, both for 91 and 95 grade octane. Until now, the decision took effect only in four stations, "but will be applied to all who are close to Mara to prevent smuggling," said a worker at a service station who asked not to be identified.
Indicators of the construction and sales of homes in Venezuela are expected to close this year at a lower level than last year due to various factors affecting the performance of this sector. The president of the Real Estate Chamber of Venezuela, Francisco Neri, said presales have registered a decline of 90% over the course of the current period, strongly influenced by the ban on deposits from presale real estate contracts toward the Construction Price Index. Neri noted that for this reason most of the promoters have decided to discontinue pending housing developments and very few new projects have started. In the area of construction, the pace of house completions declined 40%.
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