Hustle and bustle at National Assembly to decide on 5 CNE board positions

<a href=www.vheadline.com>Venezuela's Electronic News Posted: Friday, March 28, 2003 By: Patrick J. O'Donoghue

National Assembly (AN)  government and opposition benches are busily concerting pacts and agreements to reach some kind of consensus about 5 of 87 candidates to fill the new National Electoral College (CNE)  board posts. 

Top Movimiento Quinta Republica (MVR) candidates are: current CNE board member Romulo Rangel, CNE official Esther Gautier and former Liga Socialista leader and current Poder Ciudadano member, Oscar Battaglini. However, President Chavez Frias has not yet approved MVR's three choices.

• The opposition are supporting Sobella Mejias Lisett proposed by the civil sector and Miguel Manrique Ravelo proposed by the Universidad Central de Venezuela (UCV) Faculty of Legal & Political Studies Council.

The name of former CNE board member (1998) Miriam Kornblith, considered a hot favorite, has been put on hold during current bench negotiations. Experts say her overt anti-government stance has not helped her cause. Proyecto Venezuela (PV) is the only group still supporting her.

Apart from discussing the 5 board candidates, corridor and behind closed doors consultations are going on to choose candidates to lead key CNE offices as the Electoral Registry and Finances, just to mention two.