Venezuela: To be or not to be to the Constitution reform
November 6, 2007
The National Assembly of Venezuela by an overwhelming majority of votes has approved the draft of changes to the Constitution of the country. A powerful manifestation in support of the parliamentarians decision was held on November 4 in Caracas. By such an impressive act president Hugo Chavez has started the nation-wide campaign for changing the Constitution of the country (1999).
The date of referendum was fixed on December 2, 2007. The draft suggests 69 amendments, 33 of which were suggested by Chavez himself, the rest emerged during discussions. As a whole these amendments will impart the socialist nature to the Main Law of the country and, on its basis, will ensure further movement of Venezuela towards socialism of the XXI century, about the necessity of which president Chavez used to say more than once. In fact the new Constitution of Venezuela challenges capitalism in its neo-liberal embodiment!
Among the amendments that cause the most heated discussions in the Venezuelan society – are the ones that increase the presidential power from 6 to 7 years and abolition of any restrictions as for re-election. Chavez himself considers these amendments to be very important, as, according to him, the revolutionary changes in the country have not yet reached their height and need firm governing body.
Among the discussion amendments are also the possibility of expropriation (under certain conditions) of private property, provision of federal control over the Central bank of the country, introduction of new types of ownership (of cooperative type), extension of authorities of power bodies in case of introduction of martial law in the country.
The draft suggests development of Councils (communes) as a guiding form of peoples' control of the country, shortening of working day hours, creation of social security fund for workers of private sector, increase of the role of the state in development of health care, education system and obtaining of accommodation.
Opponents to the reforms in Constitution carry out their own campaign using all available at their disposal mass media means. The permitted by the authorities demonstration of opposition, counting about 5 thousand people, was held on November 2 in Caracas. Students of a number of universities in the country were its initiators. The protest slogans prevailed – denial of socialism of a «Cuban type» that Chavez allegedly plans to build, «protection of democracy and freedom of speech». Despite the fact that students were granted the right to hand over their petition, radical participants of the demonstration took some provocative actions against law enforcement forces, which had to use rubber clubs, tear gas and water jets for normalisation of the situation in the vicinity of the National election council.
The historic bill has still to obtain the support of ordinary citizens. On the second of December in the course of referendum the Venezuelans will have to answer the question – whether the suggested reforms are needed. In his speech at the meeting on November 4, Hugo Chavez called for effective, offensive nature of the campaign for reforming the Constitution. He also warned the most radical opposition leaders that the authorities would not allow destabilising actions in the spirit of April 2002 and would not let to frustrate the referendum. As Chavez said, «they play with fire, trying to ignite the country by neglecting laws, instigating the military to oppose the government». Chavez also stated, that the law enforcement forces should not «let students from rich families make disturbances in the center of the capital», and controlling mass media means to neglect the «calls for a coup». As Chavez stressed, «if the oligarchs and fascist minority try to ignite the country, we (revolutionaries) will step over them».
We may also note that the Venezuelan opposition, revealing its displeasure by the prepared reforms of the Constitution, nevertheless still has not determined itself whether to participate in the referendum or ignore it. According to director of a leading Venezuelan polling service «Datanalisis» L.V. Leon, there are four scenarios of the referendum outcome. According to the first three scenarios, Chavez will win in one way or other (in the first variant with the rate of up to 60%). And only in the fourth one the opposition can win if it manages to convince all potential supporters to come to ballot-boxes. «If Chavez loses, - stressed L.V. Leon, - it will become not only his first failure (at elections), but will also create a critical situation for him. The revolution will get a fatal wound». (See Venezuelan newspaper «Nacional», 14.11.07).
It is forecast that in case of victory of Chavez, he would remain in power till 2021, as there is no equal to him political figure either in the Bolivarian movement ranks or in among the opposition. According to the polls carried out by «Datanalisis» in the second half of October, more than 70% of Venezuelans approve of the actions of president Chavez.