July 31, 2006
CNE to put a cap on presidential campaign expenses

(El Universal) - "Unlike the latest electoral campaigns in Venezuela, the National Electoral Council (CNE) plans to impose a ceiling on the expenses of political advertising and propaganda ahead of next December 3rd presidential election.

CNE board of directors made the announcement, but reached no consensus on the amount of money presidential candidates would be allowed to spend for promoting their candidacies.

Over the last three weeks, CNE director Vicente Díaz, the president of the CNE political Participation and Funding Committee, has suggested imposing a USD 7.8 million. However, the other CNE directors rejected such an amount as insufficient to afford advertising expenses in domestic TV networks.

The CNE board of directors is to define the maximum amount of money presidential candidates will be allowed to spend during the electoral campaign in August 1st-December 1st".