Chavez Loses Venezuelan Referendum

In a referendum on changing much of the Venezuelan political landscape, the voters told President Hugo Chavez that he had over-reached himself. His 69 proposed amendments to the country’s constitution were voted down 51% to 49%. What is most interesting is his reaction. He has accepted the democratic will of the people.

Washington has played up fears of Mr. Chavez for years now, and while he is a rather nasty variety of populist that Latin America turns up every so often, he isn’t in the Franco or Castro mold. “To those who voted against my proposal, I thank them and congratulate them,” he said. "I ask all of you to go home, know how to handle your victory. You won it. I wouldn’t have wanted that Pyrrhic victory.”

That is not the response of a tyrant. Ignoring the vote, or rigging it would be more in line with that interpretation of Mr. Chavez’s character. When he said, “There is no dictatorship here,” one could actually believe him.

That isn’t to say his instincts are good for Venezuelan democracy. As the BBC noted, among his proposals were indefinite re-election of president with the term increased from 6 to 7 years – a possible bid to be president-for-life. Also, he would have ended the central bank autonomy. In addition, he could have reorganized the structure of country's administrative districts.

Despite this loss, Mr. Chavez remains the sole force in Venezuela. The opposition leaders may take heart from this, but they lack the levers of power to do much. His term of office runs until 2012. That’s certainly enough time to try the change the rules again.

© Copyright 2007 by The Kensington Review, Jeff Myhre, PhD, Editor. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written consent. Produced using Fedora Linux.

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