2006 Election
President Chavez was re-elected by an overwhelming majority (63%) in the December 3, 2006 presidential elections. He defeated Zulia Governor Manuel Rosales, whose Un Nuevo Tiempo (UNT) party formed an alliance with several significant opposition parties. Though international observers found no evidence of election fraud, they did note concerns over abuse of government resources used to support the Chavez campaign, voter intimidation tactics, and manipulation of the electoral registry.
Fresh from his overwhelming win in the 2006 presidential election, Chavez started 2007 by announcing an ambitious agenda for deepening his Bolivarian Revolution that included proposing constitutional reform, forming a single pro-government United Socialist Party (PSUV), launching a "Morality and Enlightenment" public education campaign, expropriating strategic sectors (energy and telecommunications), energizing community councils, and designing a territorial re-districting plan ("New Geometry of Power").
He quickly tried to implement this agenda -- bullying pro-Chavez parties and government employees into joining the PSUV, ramming his reform package through the National Assembly, and securing broad decree powers from the legislature which he used to nationalize the oil fields and telecommunications company CANTV. In addition, Chavez ignored domestic and foreign entreaties when he shut down independent free-to-air television station Radio Caracas Television (RCTV), which he accused of fomenting the short-lived 2002 coup. These actions created friction among his own supporters and other groups, such as the university students.
In January 2007, President Chavez announced a renewed effort to implement his vision of "21st Century Socialism" in Venezuela. He asked the National Assembly to grant him special constitutional powers via an "enabling law" to rule by decree with respect to a broad range of issues. The all pro-government National Assembly granted those powers, for a period of 18 months. Chavez used that authority to take major steps to nationalize the telecommunications and electricity sectors, as well as to finalize a majority government share in many oil projects, all sectors with significant foreign investments.
On August 15, 2007, President Chavez proposed a package of reforms to the 1999 constitution, including measures that allowed indefinite presidential re-election, a reorganization of the geographic boundaries of government, and a redefinition of private property. On December 2, 2007, the proposed reforms were narrowly defeated in a public referendum after student groups, traditional opposition leaders, and former Chavez allies urged Venezuelans to reject the package. The vote was the first electoral loss for President Chavez since he assumed office and was seen as a rebuke of his efforts to consolidate greater power in the executive office. President Chavez has since passed some of the changes defeated in the referendum by presidential decree or legislation. Indeed, Chavez organized a vote on a constitutional amendment to end term limits for all elected officials, which was approved on February 15, 2009.
Gubernatorial and mayoral elections were held nationwide in November 2008. These state and local elections were deemed largely free and fair, although electoral nongovernmental organizations noted some irregularities, such as prohibited election-day campaigning and extended polling hours in pro-government neighborhoods.
In the first months of 2009, the Chavez administration passed a series of new laws, including laws to centralize control over ports, roads, and airport; nationalize major industries; and strip the opposition mayor of Greater Caracas of authority and resources.
Since winning the 15 February 2009 referendum eliminating term limits, President Chavez accelerated his Bolivarian revolution, further undermining political and economic freedoms in Venezuela. In the following months the Chavez government clamped down on leading opposition members while simultaneously using the National Assembly to close off any possible avenue for the opposition. The GBRV pressed a corruption case against former Defense Minister Raul Baduel and Maracaibo Mayor and 2006 consensus opposition presidential candidate Manuel Rosales.
In legislative elections held on September 26, 2010, Chavez’s United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) party won 98 seats, the opposition’s Democratic Unity Table (MUD) 65 seats, and the “third way” Fatherland for All (PPT) party 2 seats. Debate continues over the national popular vote, with Chavez claiming the PSUV won a majority (by 100,000 votes) and the opposition claiming a 52% majority when all non-PSUV parties are counted together.
Following the September 26 elections, the PSUV moved quickly to accelerate implementation of President Chavez’s "Bolivarian Revolution" in advance of the January 5, 2011 convening of the new National Assembly. In addition to appointing nine Chavez loyalists to the TSJ, PSUV deputies approved a series of laws aimed at creating a “communal” state and economy; limiting internal rules for assembly debate; prohibiting party defections; and increasing government control over the independent media, Internet, banks, and non-governmental organizations (NGOs). It also approved a fourth “enabling law” granting President Chavez decree powers for 18 months, effectively marginalizing the legislative power of the newly-elected opposition deputies.
Nearly all notable legislation enacted since January 2011 had been through presidential decree. In the first half of 2011, President Chavez issued decree laws that authorized the government takeover of “idle or underutilized” land and buildings in "emergency zones, " imposed a windfall profits tax on oil sales over $40 per barrel, and required all companies to provide food ticket benefits to employees, A decree law on "fair costs and prices," allegedly intended to price gouging, extends significant government controls over private sector enterprises.
The government harassed and intimidated privately owned television stations, other media outlets, and journalists throughout the year, using threats, fines, property seizures, targeted regulations, and criminal investigations and prosecutions. The government did not respect judicial independence or permit judges to act according to the law without fear of retaliation. The government used the judiciary to intimidate and selectively prosecute political, union, business, and civil society leaders who were critical of government policies or actions. Failure to provide for the due process rights, physical safety, and humane conditions for inmates contributed to widespread violence, riots, injuries, and deaths in the country’s prisons.
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
