Chávez Wins Again
Venezuelans continue to support socialist leader despite corruption fears
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is surrounded by children holding Cuban and Venezuelan flags at a ceremony where the tomb of Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar is placed during a visit by Cuba's President Raul Castro, unseen, in Caracas, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. Castro is in Venezuela on his first international visit as Cuba's leader. (AP Photo/Howard Yanes)
By Steve Ellner
In These Times
December 26, 2008
CARACAS, Venezuela — The results of the Nov. 23 state-municipal elections dashed the opposition’s hopes that Venezuela has become fed up with President Hugo Chávez. Chávez’s United Socialist Party (PSUV) took 17 of the nation’s 22 governorships, 80 percent of the mayoral posts and all but three state legislatures. The achievement of an absolute majority of the popular vote by the Chavistas — or Chávez supporters — after 10 years in power is impressive. It shows that the president has found the formula for maintaining high levels of popularity over an extended period of time.
In another plus for the Chavistas, voter turnout surpassed 65 percent — 20 percentage points higher than the last state-municipal election in 2004. Such participation helps debunk the claim that Chávez is installing an authoritarian regime.
However, it wasn’t all good news for the Chavistas. Opposition leaders and some of the media highlighted Chávez defeats in Miranda, Zulia, Carabobo, the nation’s most populated states, as well as in the capital city of Caracas. The losses might force Chávez to slow down the pace of change and force the PSUV to analyze its errors...
(click here to view entire report)
Venezuela's President Hugo Chavez is surrounded by children holding Cuban and Venezuelan flags at a ceremony where the tomb of Venezuela's independence hero Simon Bolivar is placed during a visit by Cuba's President Raul Castro, unseen, in Caracas, Saturday, Dec. 13, 2008. Castro is in Venezuela on his first international visit as Cuba's leader. (AP Photo/Howard Yanes) By Steve Ellner
In These Times
December 26, 2008
CARACAS, Venezuela — The results of the Nov. 23 state-municipal elections dashed the opposition’s hopes that Venezuela has become fed up with President Hugo Chávez. Chávez’s United Socialist Party (PSUV) took 17 of the nation’s 22 governorships, 80 percent of the mayoral posts and all but three state legislatures. The achievement of an absolute majority of the popular vote by the Chavistas — or Chávez supporters — after 10 years in power is impressive. It shows that the president has found the formula for maintaining high levels of popularity over an extended period of time.
In another plus for the Chavistas, voter turnout surpassed 65 percent — 20 percentage points higher than the last state-municipal election in 2004. Such participation helps debunk the claim that Chávez is installing an authoritarian regime.
However, it wasn’t all good news for the Chavistas. Opposition leaders and some of the media highlighted Chávez defeats in Miranda, Zulia, Carabobo, the nation’s most populated states, as well as in the capital city of Caracas. The losses might force Chávez to slow down the pace of change and force the PSUV to analyze its errors...
(click here to view entire report)
posted by Justin Delacour | 7:24 PM
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