Presidential elections.2C 2006 Súmate

súmate recommended procedures primary, held on 13 august 2006, choose opposition candidate 3 december 2006 presidential elections. teodoro petkoff, chávez critic, said súmate s procedure authoritarian, comparing carmona decree. 9 other candidates agreed terms holding primary, confirming desire allow citizens choose opposition candidate. candidate condemned petkoff s remarks against súmate, saying petkoff s statements didn t country, , explaining conditions holding primary had been discussed between of candidates, including petkoff. on 9 august, súmate announced 13 august primary election not held, since candidates had decided manuel rosales single opposition candidate. machado said primary initiative accomplished goal , súmate continue working ensure clean elections , respect citizens rights.

on 8 december 2006, súmate announced count , audits of final election results matched official count of venezuelan national electoral council, showed landslide victory hugo chávez, highlighting balloting not clean, transparent or reliable. machado said government had stacked odds against opposition in pre-election period, including climate of collective intimidation due use of fingerprint-reading machines , unaudited register of voters, , if irregularities had been corrected, have impacted final result. clarified impact not assessed, saying know truth venezuelans feel, day when clean elections held in venezuela.