Venezuela’s Health Care Project called “Barrio Adentro” (Inside the neighborhood) has provided opportunities for both the government and the opposition to use for political gain ahead of the National Assembly elections in 2010.
Critics are saying this project is another proof of the “Cubanization” of Venezuela.The buildings are not in good shape, Cuban doctors are replacing the local ones and the traditional hospitals are not properly funded. Chavez, on the other hand tries to constantly promote the project.
The National Assembly has been dominated by Chavez since 2005 and even though Chavez’s current rating is at 50%, a survey by local pollster Datanalisis showed that 21.5% of Venezuelans are pro-government, 17.4 are pro-opposition and 54% have no political affiliation. Meaning it is true that most people are not ‘political’ and only worry about putting food on the table.
Karen Hooper (Latin American analyst at US think thank Stratfor) says that is not a question of the opposition winning but when Chavez will lose. Venezuela will experience negative economic growth, and high inflation in the 20’s this year along with other current problems like crime rate, unemployment and the most recent electricity and water cuts. See: Source
