Weekly Report - 30 July 2015 (WR-15-30)

A damning report on the parlous state of Caracas hospitals broadcast on 29 July by the UK’s award-winning Channel 4 News, not exactly known for its sympathies with the Right, doubtless would be received with scorn by President Nicolás Maduro as part of the international conspiracy against the country with the largest oil reserves in the world after Saudi Arabia. It is difficult to know how his revered late predecessor, Hugo Chávez (1999-2013), who on 28 July would have turned 61, would have responded to such damaging global images of his homeland. Harder still is to guess at how Venezuelan voters will act in the forthcoming midterm legislative elections on 6 December next.