Constitution, Law & Judiciary

The Venezuelan government's effort to create "21^st century socialism" is moving ahead full-steam. While tensions and confusion about the reform are rising in Venezuela, it is important to realize that this reform will mean both less and more than most outside observers seem to think.

Only an understanding of the political project that Chavez plans to develop in the country, and the specific political, economic, and social structure that it entails, allows us to fit the constitutional reform into the larger context and understand the real role it plays in laying the groundwork for the future plans of the Chavez government.

The following is an article-by-article summary of the changes being proposed to Venezuela's 1999 constitution. Venezuelans will vote on the reform on December 2^nd and will do so in two blocks. Block "A" includes President Chavez's original proposal and 13 articles introduced by the National Assembly. Block "B" includes another 26 reform articles proposed by the National Assembly. Voters may vote "Yes" or "No" on each block.

Planned Venezuelan constitutional reforms are portrayed as 'another Chavez power grab', a notion challenged by Mark Weisbrot of US thinktank CEPR

The reforms to the Constitution are fully consistent with the changing needs of a democratic country like Venezuela that is seeking an alternative model of participation and development. Critics of the reforms not only misunderstand their purpose, but they also fail to recognize that since Chávez was first elected, their worst fears and warning have not come true.

Reforms to the Venezuelan Constitution aim to speed the redistribution of resources, allow more direct citizen participation in the democratic process, prohibit discrimination based on sexual orientation, and protect afro-Venezuelan heritage and culture, among other rights.

Think of how angry Americans would be if Pakistan's government let Osama bin Laden emerge from his cave of refuge and take up open residence in Islamabad? A scene just like that is the reality here in the United States where Luis Posada Carriles, who ranks in the top ten list of the world's most prolific terrorists, is living freely in Florida.

Accusing politicians of corruption is perhaps one of the favorite ways to discredit politicians in Latin America. It should thus come as no surprise then that now that Chavez has been in office for over eight years, that Chavez’s opponents, whether in Venezuela or internationally, should use this charge against Chavez.

Although imperfect, no country anywhere is closer to a model democracy than Venezuela under President Hugo Rafael Chavez Frias. In contrast, none is a more shameless failure than the U.S.A., but it was true long before the age of George W. Bush.

The successes of the Venezuelan Constituent Assembly offers hope for Bolivia’s embattled assembly, and more fledgling processes in Ecuador. But it also points to the long road that lies ahead for bringing about social change.