Venezuela’s Chavez suspends his Sunday radio and TV show during legislative election campaign

Chavez suspends radio-TV program during campaign

CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez is taking his Sunday TV and radio program off the air until October during campaigning for legislative elections.

The Information Ministry says “Hello, President” will not appear this weekend to make room for televised coverage of a voting drill by electoral officials and the final of the women’s baseball World Cup.

And with campaigning for the Sept. 26 elections officially launching next week, the ministry said in a statement Saturday that the program will be suspended until after the vote out of respect for electoral rules.

In addition to “Hello, President,” Chavez usually makes marathon speeches several times a week.