CARACAS, Venezuela – The Venezuelan opposition held its primary election on April 25 in seven states to elect 22 representatives who will run in legislative elections on Sept. 26. Thousands filled the polling stations in the states of Zulia, Táchira, Portuguesa, Miranda, Lara, Anzoátegui, Carabobo and the capital district, in elections that were held without incident. Winners include María Corina Machado, director of the Venezuelan think tank “Súmate,” who was heavily criticized by the Venezuelan government after she met with then-President George W. Bush at the White House in 2005. “The opposition presents itself today as a perfect alliance,” Juan Vicente León, director of Venezuelan polling firm Datanálisis told El Universal. “Unity [among the opposition] exists and that amplifies its chances of obtaining seats in the national assembly,” he said. [El Universal (Venezuela), 26/04/2010; Noticias24 (Venezuela), 26/04/2010]