The Devil's Excrement

One explanation given by some for the cancellation of the petition drive for Governors and Deputies is that it is the result of the realization by the Chavistas of the impossibility of their task in gathering the signatures of the 20% of registered voters in each regional jurisdiction. From this, Chavista strategists concluded that it would be equally impossible for the opposition to obtain sufficient signatures in four days to ask for Chávez’ recall. While the rules are indeed tough, the opposition has one basic advantage: a lot of practice. This will be the third petition drive by the opposition, one for the consultative referendum and a second one for the signatures rejected in September asking to recall Chávez’ term. However, it would still seem too much of a risk for Chávez to even allow the possibility for the opposition to succeed at its task. While the Chavistas could have taken many measures to block people from signing, the presence of so many international observers will now make it difficult, which is why I think that this was such an important decision. Reportedly former President Jimmy Carter had a lot to do with the decision by the CNE to allow international observers. 

The strategy by the opposition is to ask people to go out and sign the recall petition early on the first day (Friday the 28th. of November, a work day), in this way, if locally they run out of petition forms, there will be sufficient time to correct the deficiency. People are also being told to hang around after signing to send a signal to those that are afraid that the process is massive and no one will bother them if they go sign. Additionally, people are being told to take advantage of the fact that the first day is a working day and those that live in the barrios have the excuse to go out of the barrio without anyone bothering them for going to sign the petition.

This entry was posted on November 1, 2003 at 2:57 pm and is filed under Venezuela.