Global Voices Online

Venezuelans will be holding the funniest elections in the country history. Entertainer Benjamin Rausseo, better known as Er’ Conde del Guacharo (Count of Guacharo), announced this week that he will run for President. Rausseo is Venezuela’s most popular comedian, and he has no political background. His character is a working-class man from the northeastern part of the country (by the Caribbean Sea), bearing stereotypical traits such as being a lazy deadbeat and womanizer; he talks in coarse language, and doesn’t care much about either public affairs or family values. Originally, the character satirized negative traits associated to Venezuelan folks, but surprisingly the audience found the character quite affable, and most people liked him.

Rausseo got extensive TV coverage for his announcement to run for President, much more than any other presidential candidate so far. His campaign is taking advantage of the Internet, and includes a weblog, an online forum, and a network of bloggers for Er’ Conde.

Chorro de Escape highlights the Conde’s efforts devoted to gain support from internet users, especially from bloggers, and the “tsunami” in favor of the comedian aspirations.

No se si me equivoco, pero primera vez que un candidato presidencial se ocupa tanto de la gente que esta en internet, especialmente de nosostros los blogeros y la respuesta que ha recibido ha sido “un tsunami” como dijo el, muchisimos blogs ya se estan uniendo, los medios lo estan apoyando muchisimo, porque el Conde ahora tiene mucho que decir.

I don't know if I'm mistaken, but this is the first time a presidential candidate has cared so much for reaching people on the internet, especially bloggers, and the response he has received has been “a tsunami,” like he said. Tons of blogs are already uniting and the media is giving a lot of support because “the Count” now has a lot to say.

Topochoblog compiled a large list of bloggers’ reactions to Rausseo’s Presidential aspirations.

Many bloggers show enthusiasm with Er’Conde, like Lilibeth who says,

Entre tanto desbarajuste político yo prefiero morir de Risa que morir de hambre y miseria!

Among so much political chaos, I prefer to die of laughter rather die of hunger and misery!

Not without some embarrassment, some bloggers say that they may end up voting for Rausseo. Regardless, Venezuelan politics has become a slapstick comedy.

The second most popular reaction is cynicism.

los políticos venezolanos, sin haber estado jamás en un escenario, suelen dar más risa que er Conde, aunque es una risa agria.

Venezuelan politicians, without having been in a skit, are often more laughable than er Conde, although it is a bitter laugh.

On the contrary, Chavista bloggers are having a big laugh, like Alex who says, “this is the funniest episode of Venezuelan political history.”

Lobo Hombre gave another twist to the case. He argues that Rausseo is unraveling the absurdity of VEnezuelan politics.

Lo que el conde está haciendo acá (repito: genialmente) es poner de manifiesto en nuestra propia cara lo ridículas, viscerales e irreflexivas que son nuestras posturas políticas

What “the Count” is doing here (I repeat: brilliantly) is putting in front of our faces just how ridiculous, visceral, and unwise our political positions are.

Maybe, Lobohombre is right.

Posted by Iria Puyosa