Sensational Shapers 2012 - Henrique Radonski & Pablo Pérez

So far on our Sensational Shapers program we've profiled three of our ten candidates for who to watch for as they shape the world around them in 2012. We discussed Marine Le Pen of France, Xi Jinping of China, and the farcical menace that is Culture Club. Considering that we are now 19 days into the year we have been too slow in keeping up with our task. So we will probably blitz you with the remaining seven in short order.

This is our first dual portrait, but not our last. Today we will focus on Henrique Capriles Radonski and Pablo Martín Pérez Álvarez, two of Hugo Chávez's rivals to the 2012 Venezuelan Presidential Elections. Chávez will be difficult to beat as he is still incredibly popular among the poor and is reshuffling his deck ahead of the election in October. Besides the political maneuvering, Chávez is determined to rule for at least two more turns, which would see him stay in power from 1999 - 2025. Long live the king right?

Not, if Henrique Capriles Radonski has any say in the matter. Mr. Capriles Radonski is the governor of Estado Miranda, Venezuela's second most populous state. While Mr. Capriles Radonski does not have as much political experience or the vast infrastructure and machinery that Chávez has, he has defeated Chavista candidates before, once to become a mayor and then to become governor of Miranda. Mr. Capriles Radonski is a successful lawyer who has studied abroad in America and the Netherlands. With his law skills and economic theories, Venezuelans who crave a more Americanized way over the Socialist populism of Chávez may want to support Mr. Capriles Radonski.

Pablo Martín Pérez Álvarez is the governor of Estado Zulia, the most populous state in Venezuela. Like Mr. Capriles Radonski, Mr. Pérez Álvarez has proven himself capable of defeating a Chavista candidate. There are questions as to whether either of these men can really challenge for the presidency, but they have given the opposition its best and most formidable hope since Chávez took office. For far too long the rallying cries of the opposition movement have been too divisive for any candidates to garner enough popular support. Many candidates bash Chávez so forcefully that Chávez can paint them as being practical American plants or right-wing lunatics that have no regard to the poor. His labels may not be too far off for some.

Whether or not Messrs Capriles Radonski and Pérez Álvarez can defeat Mr. Chávez in the election is not as important or why we have chosen them as a Sensational Shaper for 2012. They are poised to be Sensational Shapers because of their moderate stance. That moderate stance gives them a more powerful tool against Chávez and will find them more popular with voters. Mr. Chávez has a history of silencing dissent, if he were to take on two powerful governors in Venezuela the consequences could be interesting. Would Venezuela find itself in a position of isolating its allies in Latin America if Chávez pushed too hard? Would Mr. Chávez find himself at the wrong end of voter anger if he silenced them? The possible ramifications of what could come from Messrs Capriles Radonski and Pérez Álvarez being constantly in the media nationwide is why they will be Sensational Shapers in 2012.