IN VENEZUELA: A RANKING OF 30 OUTSTANDING DEMOCRATIC LEADERS

IN VENEZUELA: A RANKING OF 30 OUTSTANDING DEMOCRATIC
LEADERS.
Gustavo Coronel
From Washington.
It is true that the Venezuelan opposition is fragmented and lacks creativity. The older, traditional Venezuelan political figures seem to have reached the end of their public careers.Some of them are still capable of moments of lucidity and many are honest but no longer enjoy the trust or favor of the Venezuelan public. Some, like Rafael Caldera, Eduardo Fernandez, Henrique Salas and Pompeyo Marquez, are essentially retired. They are no longer the ones who will promote the changes that Venezuela needs. A new political and intellectual leadership is emerging and is today in the forefront of the fight against the Chavez dictatorship. Some of the members of the new democratic leadership are not politicians in the traditional sense. They do not control political organizations. Many write and mold public opinion. They are widely read and mostly trusted by the Venezuelan public because they are saying and doing much of what the people would like to say and do. In appreciation of their efforts I have made a personal ranking of these new leaders. Readers can add their own candidates or react positively or negatively to my choices. I am aware that there are very worthy democratic Venezuelans who are not in this list and that readers might disagree about some of my choices but this is one way to start identifying the influential, democratic leadership in the country.

THE RANKING.
1. Antonio Ledezma. Perseverant, hard working political leader;
2. Oswaldo Alvarez Paz. Political leader, very clear about what has to be done in Venezuela;
3. Marcel Granier. Valiant businessman. Chavez’s worst nightmare;
4. Marta Colomina. Journalistic icon of the opposition;
5. Manuél Caballero. Historian and formidable adversary of the dictator;
6. Oscar Pérez. Tireless political leader, walks the barrios;
7. Leopoldo López. Valuable representative of the younger political generations;
8. Miguél Angel Rodríguez. Television warrior againt the dictatoship;
9. Manuél Malavé. One of the most acute Venezuelan essayists. Uses ridicule as his weapon of choice;
10. Antonio Sánchez García. Highly articulate, coherent essayist. His articles are widely read;
11. José Guerra. Financial expert. Keeps readers informed about the financial disasters of the revolution;
12. Roberto Giusti. Exceptional journalist, widely read;.
13. Rodolfo Schmidt. Exceptional journalist, widely read;
14. Nelson Bocaranda. Exceptional journalist, widely read;
15. Antonio Pasquali. Very respected expert in Communications, philosopher, an icon of honesty;
16. Francisco Uson. In prison but unbroken, a dignified member of the armed forces;
17.Roberto Luker, Bishop of Coro. Speaks in a clear and strong voice against Chavez’s vulgar and aggressive attitudes.
18. Laureano Marquez. The best Venezuelan humorist. Every Friday, in his editorial for “Tal Cual”, he finds original ways to ridicule the dictator;
19. Rayma. Young Venezuelan cartoonist. She uses her creativity daily in “El Universal”, with devastating effects against the “revolution”;
20. Charito Rojas. Journalist out of Valencia. A very hard hitting political analyst;
21. Marianela Salazar. Well read journalist, with a column usually full of information on corruption in government;
22. Roberto Bottome. Venezuelan analyst, editor of widely read “Veneconomy”. Extremely articulate and well researched columns;
23. Alberto Quiros Corradi. Petroleum expert and exceptional manager. His Sunday articles in “El Nacional” are expected by thousands;
24. Eddie Ramirez. Leader of the displaced managers of Petroleos de Venezuela. He has kept a very dignified and institutional posture, in spite of the insults the petroleum managers have received from the government;
25. Emilio Figueredo. Editor of www.analitica.com , probably the best, all around Venezuelan website, deeply commited to democracy;
26. Miguél Octavio. Editor of one of the best Venezuelan blogs in English, “The Devil’s Excrement”;
27. Daniel Duquenal, Editor of one of the best Venezuelan blogs in English, “Venezuelan News and Views”;
28. Yon Goicochea. A student leader, extremely articulate and excellent organizer;
29. Teodoro Petkoff. Editor of “Tal Cual”and a very sharp and influential critic of the Chavez’s dictatorship;
30. Oscar Garcia Mendoza. Somewhat of a rarity in Venezuela: an honest banker, full of courage, ready to say what has to be said.