A U.S. delegation of international electoral accompaniers reports back
from their observance of the February term limits referendum in
Venezuela. NACLA, TransAfrica Forum, Urban Semillas, and
Diverse Strategies Organizing compiled the report.
By Vanessa Davies & James Suggett - Venezuelanalysis, Feb 25th 2009
Journalist and activist of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) Vanessa Davies spoke with Venezuelanalysis.com about the meaning of the referendum, the next steps and challenges ahead for the PSUV, gender in the Chávez government, the media, and U.S. President Barack Obama.
The
referendum victory of Venezuela's president is founded on an extension
of the understanding of democracy that has both national roots and
regional parallels, says Julia Buxton.
The president of France, Nicolas Sarkozy, sent a letter to President Chavez last week, congratulating him on the
victory in the constitutional referendum last week.
The 55% majority which secured Sunday's referendum to remove term
limits in Venezuela did not appear particularly impressive in
comparison to the 63% that re-elected Chavez back in 2006. It should be
recognised, however, that Chavez's support was partially split.
Allegiances have in fact changed very little in the last few years.
I feel the need to suggest that millions of Venezuelans may not
really be fearful, complacent, or neglectful. I think that millions of
people favor the policies of Hugo Chávez and the United Socialist Party
of Venezuela (PSUV) because socialism has improved their lives.
In response to
significant political victories by former Bush nemeses Hugo Chavez in
Venezuela and Evo Morales in Bolivia, State Department spokespersons
praised the democratic processes in these countries, indicating a more
open attitude toward the growing independence of Latin American nations.
On
the afternoon of Friday 13 February, my friend Amelia and I found
ourselves in the back of a pickup truck in the Venezuelan city of
Barcelona with several members of the Partido Comunista de Venezuela
(PCV), two loudspeakers, and our Lebanese-Palestinian companion Hassan.
After 54.9% of Venezuelan voters approved a constitutional amendment to
eliminate term limits on elected offices on Sunday, opposition and government representatives continued to exchange accusations over who had more advantages in the campaign.
While Chavez supporters argue that the opposition had the advantage
during the amendment campaign because of their dominance over the
media, the opposition is arguing that the “Yes” side used government
resources in its campaign and is proposing a law against such “abuse”.
