LETTER N° 22

From 28 May to 3 June

28 Venezuela		Presidential, legislative, and local elections.ranging from the presidency to local council members, were canceled last Thursday when election officials admitted that electronic voting machines and ballot papers were not ready. Chavez, was strongly favored to win re-election. The vote for president, National Assembly and state governors could be held on July 2, leaving the more complex election of mayors and other municipal officials until August 27.
28 Peru		Presidential election - 2nd round. election on Sunday returned President Alberto Fujimori to power.With all the votes counted, Mr Fujimori had 51,2%. His only challenger, Alejandro Toledo, obtained 17,68%. Some three and a half million ballots were invalid or blank, representing more than 31% of all votes cast. Mr Toledo, who boycotted the poll alleging fraud, had called on his supporters to stay away or invalidate their voting slips. Foreign ministers from the Organisation of American States will analyse Peru's electoral process and their possible response during their annual meeting which begins on Sunday.
30 United States		Former Pennsylvania governor (1987-95) Robert P. Casey dies.
31 Bulgaria		Former foreign minister (1971-89), general secretary of the Communist Party (1989-90), chairman of the State Council (1989-90), and president (1990) Petur Mladenov dies.
02 Japan		Pledging to revitalize Japan's economy, Prime Minister Yoshiro Mori dissolved the Lower House on Friday to clear the way for a June 25 election that many pundits expect his ruling bloc, the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP), which dominates the coalition and in power for most of the past 45 years to win despite his slumping popularity.
03 Papua New Guinea		Papua New Guinea, Parliamentary by -elections in the Gazelle Open and the West New Britain electorates ; (2nd round.- 17)
03 United States		Former treasury secretary (1974-77) William Simon dies.