Cuba is said to have sent 2,000 agents to lever Maduro

According to Spanish daily newspaper ABC, the Cuban agents would be responsible for election monitoring, along with some 46,000 Cuban cooperators who officially reside in Venezuela, with the ultimate purpose of nailing down the Chavista revolution

 Cuba bet hard on the political management of President Hugo Chávez's illness. Now, it is devoted to make the election benefit Venezuelan acting President Nicolás Maduro. In addition to some 46,000 Cuban cooperators who officially reside in Venezuela, all of them have the mission to ensure the Chavista revolution.

Havana has commissioned a detachment for election monitoring, estimated at 2,500 troops, as appears from the intelligence reports from Cuba.

"We are here to ratify our dedication; yes, so far we have given it all; now, we are ready to give even our lives, our blood, if necessary, for this revolution," Roberto López, the head of the Cuban missions in Venezuela, proclaimed last week, when such a representation paid tribute to the body of President Chávez, quoted Spanish daily ABC.es.

The survival of the Cuban regime relies on Chávezism. Venezuela sends 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil to its ally, amounting for USD 3.7 billion a year. Cuba does not pay it directly, but in exchange of 46,000 Cuban nationals who officially work in Venezuela as physicians, teachers, coaches, etc.