CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — Preventing loquacious Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez from campaigning for re-election on the airwaves for more than three minutes isn't an easy task, but that's what opposition presidential candidate Henrique Capriles is demanding.
Capriles criticized his adversary on Tuesday for attempting to take political advantage of special broadcasts ahead of Venezuela's Oct. 7 presidential election. Capriles demanded the National Elections Council intervene.
The council's directors have approved campaign regulations that would prohibit television and radio messages that favor a presidential candidate to run longer than three minutes.
The new rules take effect Sunday when the campaign officially starts. It's unclear whether they will limit the president's frequent and lengthy use of special broadcasts known as "cadenas," which all networks are required to air.
