Chavez Getting Ready for Elections

NewsMax.comTiana Perez Tuesday May 13, 2003

Less than three months away from the date of the referendum that would question Chávez’ term, neither the date, nor the organizing body have yet been confirmed. We don’t even know who the candidates might be in the case of reelection.

While the opposition tried to launch a constitutional debate on the subject, the government assures that a president withdrawn by referendum can become president again unless the option is expressly denied within the constitution.

The Venezuelan President is counting on being one of the candidates for reelection thirty days after the binding referendum is held and has started to reorganize the party that he founded, MVR (Movement of the Fifth Republic).

Different streams seem to be present within the party, a body famous for its utter disorganization and lack of political direction. The Left has abandoned Chávez, but it is not sure whether it still waves the flag of the Fifth Republic.

In any case, Chávez is borrowing communist techniques to ensure that even if not communist, the party will be the state, and the state shall be the party, and everyone will work toward the revolution.

The President said that the party, which has not yet had internal elections since its founding, was not fit for a presidential reelection process. He will try to put order within the party lines, which should be represented by “Patriotic Circles,” the basis of the party and the revolution.

Chávez, who has appointed most if not all of the members of MVR, complains about these “Patriotic Circles” having ended up mixed up with “Bolivarian Circles”. The “Bolivarian Circles” were meant to draw members from the peoples on the street, the neighbors, the workers but it all got a bit fuzzy last April 2002 when civil servants, and other revolutionaries were filmed shooting on protesters organized by major of Caracas and ex-policeman Freddy Bernal.

Freddy Bernal is a strong supporter of Chávez, maybe not so much as before but he has publicly declared that the streets of Caracas are dirty because 80% of his time is devoted to the revolution.

The “Patriotic Circles” will soon elect a “Patriotic Council”, which in representation of the different states of Venezuela will elect a “Strategic National Commando”. The Commando, composed of 60 members and 40 substitutes will finally be able to choose members of the “National Tactic Commando,” the very organization that will elect three members of a 9 member board, where Chávez, who will be the President, will designate the remaining six members.

The belief that the referendum will be postponed is not unjustified considering the work ahead of the MVR. Congress is also struggling with the appointment of a five-member board that will be in charge of coordinating the coming elections. An ad hoc committee has been appointed after about two months of reviewing resumes to select the last round of electoral officials by May 15th. If this comes true, Congress would not need to grant a two thirds approval for each of the five members.

The Committee failed to meet yesterday. If it fails to meet its deadline, the Supreme Courts of Justice may take the decision instead. An opposition faction is appealing to the higher justice body for preventing the return to the stalemate in Congress.

Whenever the referendum happens, if it happens, sentiment is that Chávez will be recalled. The MVR believes that he is in for a 48% victory during re election; but polls suggest that he will gather 28% of votes. So far, no one seems to want the referendum any more, at least not just yet.