Profile: Manuel Rosales

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/world/americas/6180358.stm

Version 0 of 1.

By Fernan Gonzalez Torres BBC Latin America analyst Manuel Rosales defines himself as a social democratVenezuela's main opposition candidate, Manuel Rosales, appears to be fighting an uphill struggle to become the next president of his country in Sunday's elections.

The 53-year-old governor of Zulia, Venezuela's richest and most populous state - is running against President Hugo Chavez.

A former teacher, Mr Rosales rose through the ranks of Accion Democratica (Democratic Action), one of the two parties that dominated Venezuelan politics for most of the second half of the 20th Century.

In 2000, he founded his own party which he called Un Nuevo Tiempo - A New Era.

His supporters praise Mr Rosales's record as governor and previously as mayor of Maracaibo, the second-largest city of Venezuela.

In office, he has implemented social programmes to help the poor.

In Maracaibo, he is credited with improving the infrastructure and tackling insecurity, seen as one of the biggest problems in the country.

Mr Rosales defines himself as a social democrat who believes in freedom and social justice.

In an interview with the BBC, he said that, if elected, he would keep some of the "missions" - the social programmes implemented by Mr Chavez's government to help the poor.

Middle class support

Mr Rosales insists that these programmes existed long before Mr Chavez came to power. The government, he says, has only changed their names.

Most of the support for the opposition candidate comes from the middle classes.

During his campaign, Mr Rosales has tried to reach to the poorest sections of Venezuelan society.

He has promised to give the worst-off families a debit card known as "Mi Negra" - a scheme through which 20% of oil earnings will be distributed. The proposal has been dismissed by some critics as populist.

Although many political analysts consider Mr Rosales a skilful politician, some of them point to his lack of charisma as one of his biggest weaknesses.

They say that talking the language of the common people is not enough to match Mr Chavez.

Failed coup

Mr Rosales's past political allegiances have also been subjected to criticism.

Government supporters accuse him of taking part in the short-lived coup against President Chavez in April 2002.

Mr Rosales insists it was an honest mistake in the confusion that followed the announcement of the president's resignation, and says that at least he did not organise a coup like the one Mr Chavez led in February 1992.

Many analysts say Mr Rosales has managed to energise a demoralised and divided opposition. And, even if he does not win, he could still have an important role to play in the future.