Hugo Chavez Voted for Capriles In Venezuela Election, Audit Shows
Deceased Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez voted in last monthâs controversial election to replace him, an audit of the results has revealed. According to reports, theÂ absentee ballot cast before his death was markedÂ for opposition candidate Henrique Capriles. A note written alongside the ballot explained that Chavez thought Maduro was a "cheapÂ imitation" ofÂ himself, and he prefered to vote for the moreÂ sincereÂ opposition, despite their policy differences. The shocking revelation comes amid high tensions Â between pro-government and anti-government supporters in the wake of a special presidential election held to replace Chavez, the controversial left-wing firebrand who died March 5 at age 58 following a long battle with cancer. Official election results declared that Chavezâs Vice President Nicolas Maduro narrowly defeated Capriles by less than 2 percent. But Capriles and Venezuelaâs political opposition demanded a vote-by-vote recount of the presidential election, claiming the election was stolen. But in its audit of the votes, Venezuelaâs electoral council, CNE, disovered Chavez's official ballot in the countryâs capital Caracas. The CNE said Chavez âcast a vote for Henrique Capriles as a registered voter in Caracasâs first district, which includes the presidential palace.â âSince Chavez was, of course, unable to take part in the election,â CNE spokesman Alberto CapÃ³ne said, âthe only reasonable explanation was that our dear leader had great foresight to cast a vote ahead of time." Because it was Chavez's death which triggered the special election to replace him,Â under VenezuelanÂ law his ballot would have legally counted if sent at the exact moment of his death. Although the socialist strongman had strongly supported Maduro, according to a note written on the margins of his ballot he had a change of heart in his last days. "Although I once had great respect for Maduro," the note reads, "in the past few weeks I have come to see him as little more than a lightweight version of myself. "He may be a loyal Chavista. But he has no style, no charisma, no panache. I've seen him try to connect on television - he looks like a piece of dead wood trying to float upstream. "I disagree with Henrique Capriles on nearly every issue. But I would rather vote for someone who is his own man than someone who has no personality of his own and only copies someone else's policies." A spokesperson for Capriles says he has no comment on the matter. Nos gustarÃ­a recordar a nuestros lectores venezolanos que este artÃ­culo es la sÃ¡tira. Los eventos descritos aquÃ­ no sucediÃ³.