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    February 12, 2012

Venezuela Chooses Chavez Challenger

   VOA News
   Opposition presidential candidate and Zulia's state governor Pablo
   Perez (C) waves to supporters during a rally in Caracas February 9,
   2012.
   Photo: Reuters
   Opposition presidential candidate and Zulia's state governor Pablo
   Perez (C) waves to supporters during a rally in Caracas February 9,
   2012.

   Venezuela's opposition parties are holding a primary Sunday to choose a
   single candidate to run against President Hugo Chavez in the October
   presidential elections. Sunday's vote marks the first time the
   opposition will back a single candidate to unseat the 57-year-old
   president.
   The top contenders are under 45 and represent a new generation of
   anti-Chavez leaders.
   The front-runner in the opposition contest is 39-year-old Henrique
   Capriles, the governor of Miranda state.
   His main opposition rival is Pablo Perez, who is 42, and the governor
   of western Zulia state.
   Chavez underwent chemotherapy in Caracas and Havana last year and now
   says he is cancer-free. He is seeking a third six-year term in the
   October vote.
   President Chavez has been in power since 1999.

   Some information for this report was provided by AP, AFP and Reuters.

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