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Chavez’s military wild card

CARACAS — The shadow of the military hangs over tomorrow’s Venezuelan presidential election — with many observers wondering how the armed forces will react if incumbent Hugo Chavez stumbles in his desperate bid to stay in power.

Chavez has spent nearly 14 years consolidating control over state institutions, but ultimately only the military has the clout to determine whether he’ll prevail in a close or disputed vote.

Challenger Henrique Capriles this week tweeted a photo of soldiers shedding their olive-green fatigue tops in favor of the red T-shirts worn by “los chavistas,” who crowd the president’s rallies. The Venezuelan constitution forbids the president from ordering the military to participate in political events.

“In my government, nobody will be obliged to don the T-shirt of a political party. Least of all our soldiers!” Capriles vowed.