Speaking of “pure” democracy and such mundane concepts, one has to wonder whether most Venezuelans even think about such a concept or whether they even care. In the last two Presidential elections, all candidates were elected by the same smoke-filled rooms or individual decisions of the past. Despite the fact that Chavez’ MVR wrote a new Constitution saying (Art. 67) that candidates had to be “selected by internal elections with the participation of its members”, the truth is that not a single candidate has been elected for the upcoming Gubernatorial and Mayoral elections…until yesterday…
Candidates from the opposition held yesterday a primary election to select a “unity” candidate for the gubernatorial race in Tachira state. I still don’t understand why there will be another round with the winner (The AD candidate, Rincon) running against popular figure and ex-Governor “Cura” Calderon. But the disappointing thing to me is how very few people went to vote. People want participation, ask for more democracy, but when it comes down to it, they don’t even show up!
In fact, I think the Coordinadora Democrática should have had the same procedure everywhere, whether candidates wanted it or not. This contrasts with Chavez’ MVR, where only candidates that have the approval of almighty Hugo will receive financial or political support from Chavez and his MVR. In Zulia, Chavez will back Gutierrez, but nobody wants him, another corrupt General (sue me!) with no popular support but he has Chavez’ wholehearted endorsement.
What still amazes me, as a naïve and innocent “comeflor” observer, is how politicians from both sides can get away with this. What’s the point of a Constitution if you don’t follow it? Where is the Supreme Court in all this? Chavez, what happened to your much ballyhooed participatory democracy? Dead at birth or dead on arrival? Moreover, in a country with 24 Governors and over 300 Mayors, so far only ONE of them will be selected following what the Constitution very explicitly says. Democracy? Humbug!
To me, this was a big mistake by the opposition, if they had committed themselves to the grassroots democracy of primaries, they could have gotten people excited about the upcoming regional elections. As it is, people have no faith in the electoral process and abstention will likely hand out control to Chavez’ MVR of the whole nation. But of course, even if people show up, Chavez and his MVR will win anyway, using sophisticated “voting enhancing techniques” where needed. They have the means, the techniques and the will.
The Devil's Excrement 
June 25, 2015 at 12:19 pm
[…] wrote this same rant when talking about the Coordinadora Democratica (Remember them?), who had even fewer primaries. And there are other rants in this blog (Another one […]