Confusing candidates on ballot vex Venezuela opposition

In this Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015 photo, opposition candidate Ismael Garcia, from the MUD Unity party, left, explains to a woman how to vote for him during the upcoming Congressional elections, in Maracay, Venezuela. Voters in this industrial state are gearing up to choose between two Congressional candidates both are named Ismael Garcia. They will appear side-by-side on the Dec. 6 ballot, beneath nearly-identical blue logos. And the names of their parties are also virtually indistinguishable: MIN Unity and MUD Unity. Opposition leaders say this is just one of the tricks the country’s 16 year-old socialist revolution, which has never lost a national election, is rolling out in its bid to keep control of Congress despite dismal approval ratings. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos) In this Tuesday, Nov. 10, 2015 photo, opposition candidate Ismael Garcia, from the MUD Unity party, left, explains to a woman how to vote for him during the upcoming Congressional elections, in Maracay, Venezuela. Voters in this industrial state are gearing up to choose between two Congressional candidates both are named Ismael Garcia. They will appear side-by-side on the Dec. 6 ballot, beneath nearly-identical blue logos. And the names of their parties are also virtually indistinguishable: MIN Unity and MUD Unity. Opposition leaders say this is just one of the tricks the country’s 16 year-old socialist revolution, which has never lost a national election, is rolling out in its bid to keep control of Congress despite dismal approval ratings. (AP Photo/Ariana Cubillos)

By Associated Press November 16, 2015 5 min read

MARACAY, Venezuela (AP) – The ballot for congressional elections in which Venezuela’s ruling socialists face their stiffest challenge in 16 years is dizzying enough in this industrial state, with more than two dozen parties on the ballot.

But most worrisome for incumbent Ismael Garcia, a fierce opponent of the deeply-unpopular socialist administration, is a 28-year-old parking lot attendant whose name will appear directly beside his on the ballot, under a nearly identical party title and logo.

He, too, is named Ismael Garcia. And three weeks ahead of the Dec. 6 vote he has yet to make a public campaign appearance or even explain his platform.

The result has been a bizarre campaign in which political veteran Ismael Garcia, 61, is mostly focused on helping voters identify him correctly when they go to the polls.

Opposition leaders say the race in Maracay is the most blatant example of a trick the ruling United Socialist Party of Venezuela, which has never lost a national election, is using in its effort to keep control of the National Assembly despite dismal poll ratings. With the world’s highest inflation, second-highest homicide rate, and a deepening recession, just 10 percent of voters say they are happy with how things are going. Polling suggests the opposition could win control of the 165-seat congress by a landslide.