Projects for a post-Chávez Venezuela lack substance
There are no proposals on how to improve the living standards of the poorest people. Few people have made proposals for solving social problems, as they do not want to be compared with President Hugo Chávez
According to economist Emeterio Gómez, "the lack of ideas can be easily explained: No project offers solutions, maybe on the fear of being associated with Chávez-like positions."
EUGENIO MARTINEZ EL UNIVERSAL
As the date for convening a revoking referendum against Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez is approaching and opposition groups are convinced that said vote may lead to early elections, civil society has reopened the debate on "projects for the country," i.e., concrete proposals on what to do when Chávez leaves the presidential palace of Miraflores.
There are several proposals. The ideas put forward by civic organizations for an eventual new government are characterized by a lack of details.
No significant contributions
Economist Emeterio Gómez recently affirmed that the projects' negative side "is that there is no discordant chord... Most programs only summarize a consensus. There are no significant contributions."
From his point of view, proposals should tackle "the capitalist issue. Talking in general about market economy is very different from getting into the capitalism's structure: providing concrete ideas about solidarity capitalism, and finding ways to connect capitalism with social responsibility -the key topics being debated in the world."
Another issue that, according to Gómez, must be debated is a topic laid down in the Venezuelan Constitution. "The Constitution states the need to give justice priority over rights. From a leftist standpoint, this position may seem insane because it brings forth the destruction of the judiciary system, promoting (land) invasions, for instance."
According to Gómez, it is necessary to open a debate on this issue, including the defense of the right to ownership.
Meanwhile, there are no proposals on how to improve the living standards of the poorest people.
This lack of ideas can be easily explained: "No project offers solutions, maybe on the fear of being associated with" Chávez-like positions," said the economist.
Positive aspects
Nevertheless, most projects also have some positive aspects. "This evidences that they have certain common positions. One of the basic issues being debated is what to do with the (country's) economy," said Gómez.
In this sense, focusing on a market economy is one of the solutions being discussed. "Even though very few people call it this way -some people describe it as private sector importance, productive economy, or open economy-, the core issue is the acceptance of market economy. Today, only a few people defend state intervention," he explained.
Poverty and inflation
Projects for a post-Chávez Venezuela also agree on the need to ensure the independence of the Venezuelan Central Bank and to implement non-inflationary policies.
Gómez considers that most projects have a common view regarding fiscal policy: "They intend not to increase deficit."
These plans also share common ideas about poverty. "All these programs agree on the need to face poverty, but none of them deals with the problem of high public expenses, which are going to increase."
He rejected the fact that the discussion of ideas and projects does not include specific cases such as the privatization of state-owned oil company Pdvsa.
The analyses with too many ideas about transition and few short-term plans are not shared by Gómez, who believes that "they are actually talking about medium- and long-term projects. Discussing an economic program for a transition period amounts to a waste of time. The measures to be taken depend on the government structure and how bad the economy is."
According to Gómez, "if this economic disaster is allowed to continue, the economic program will have to be much more severe. It is very difficult to agree on what should be done."