On Sunday, February 12, 2012, Venezuela held a primary election aimed at defining a single candidate to oppose President Hugo Chávez in presidential elections scheduled for October 7.  Venezuela’s fractious opposition has come together in the Mesa de Unidad Democrática (Democratic Unity Table, or MUD) to enhance its chances of unseating Chávez, who faces unprecedented economic, security, and health challenges.  Opposition candidates contending in the primary include current front-runner Henrique Capriles Radonski, governor of the state of Miranda (Primero Justicia; Capriles was endorsed last week by Leopoldo López, former mayor of Chacao, following his withdrawal from the race); Pablo Pérez, governor of Zulia state (Un Nuevo Tiempo); and Congresswoman María Corina Machado (former director of the civic organization Súmate).

Watch an interview to Luis Vicente León and William Luers here.