The Venezuelan Supreme Court recently upheld the constitutionality of blocking 272 mostly opposition candidates from running for office on the basis of suspicion of corruption.

President Hugo Chávez yesterday announced his policy for his third term in office. He heralded a "new era" in the transformation of Venezuela to socialism: the "Simón Bolívar national project 2007-2021." The project contemplates the nationalization of strategic industry sectors, such as telecommunications and electricity, through special powers to be sought from the Legislature.