2009-11-07 00:52:32 - National Elections Council (CNE) president, Tibisay Lucena has announced the date for parliamentary elections next year. They will take place on September 26.

VHeadline News Editor Patrick J. O'Donoghue reports:

Deputies to the Latin American Parliament will also be elected on the same day.

Lucena said the date had been moved forward from the traditional December slot for elections for several reasons, one of which is to get elections out of the way before the school year begins. At the moment, there is no

date for elections of legislative and parish councilors but Lucena added that the CNE board is studying several possibilities. Also on the agenda is elections to the state governorship of Amazonas and 13 mayoralties.

As regards the electoral register, Lucena maintained that the CNE has already opened a special enrolment campaign which will continue until November 30.

A separate campaign is under way to choose two new CNE directors whose time (3½ years) in office expires. National universities have put forward 32 candidates and the Citizen Power has presented a list of 12 candidates to replace directors, Yaneth Hernandez and German Yepez. An appointments committee will review each one of the candidates and draw up a shortlist.

CNE director, Sandra Oblitas confirms that despite fixing a date there has been no official convocation to elections until the CNE presents a definite timetable in conformity with legal demands.

Patrick J. O'Donoghue
news.editor@vheadline.com

www.vheadline.com/readnews.asp?id=85824

www.vheadline.com/patrick