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LISA NAPOLI: Today the United Nations takes a secret vote on which country from Latin America will occupy a two-year seat on the Security Council. From the Americas Desk at WLRN, Marketplace’s Dan Grech reports.

DAN GRECH: Hugo Chavez wants a seat on the Security Council bad and he’s spent the money to prove it, says The Miami Herald’s Andres Oppenheimer:

ANDRES OPPENHEIMER:“President Chavez of Venezuela has traveled all over the world, more than 30 international trips. Has offered subsidized oil. Has bought country’s foreign debt bonds in exchange for countries’ commitment to vote for Venezuela.”

Despite his free spending, Chavez turned a lot of countries off when he called Bush the devil at the UN last month.

It now looks like neither US-backed Guatemala nor Venezuela will get the 128 votes they need to win a seat.

So which country will step in as the compromise candidate?

OPPENHEIMER:“Most of them have said no because several of these countries rely on subsidized Venezuelan oil, and they don’t want to antagonize Chavez by saying they’re ready to be compromise candidates.”

Oppenheimer says The Dominican Republic, Costa Rica and Uruguay have been mentioned. The voting could take several days.

I’m Dan Grech for Marketplace.