VENEZUELA: Election Promised

Venezuela has not had an election—or a session of Congress, for that matter—since its ruling junta overthrew the country’s only popularly elected government in November 1948. Last week a hand-picked electoral council announced that an election for members of a constitutional assembly will be held Nov. 30. Between now and then, the 2,000,000 registered voters will hear very little but good about the junta; opposition electioneering is hamstrung. It is predictable that the assembly, which is to write a new constitution and name a provisional President until general elections can be arranged, will be on the best of terms with the junta.