The US-backed opposition to Venezuela's Sociaist Party swept the December 6
elections, achieving a two thirds supermajority in that nation's
legislature.
by Tamara Pearson, Telesur English
Originally published at Venezuelanalysis.com
On December 6, Venezuela held its 20th election in 17 years and one of its
most difficult yet. With the opposition upping the ante in terms of media
attacks and sabotage, 2.5 years of economic difficulties and since the
passing of revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez, not to mention a recent
right-wing victory in Argentina, the left and right around the world turned
anxious eyes to Venezuela.
Ultimately, the Bolivarian revolution - the "Perfect Alliance" of the
governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and other supportive
parties and organizations - lost at the polls with the right-wing, US-backed
opposition winning at least 99 seats, and 19 still to be decided.
Eighty-seven is necessary for a simple majority.
But what does this electoral loss for the revolutionary forces mean,
politically, and given the current context in Venezuela, what will the
consequences of it be, going forward?
Key factors
1) As usual, this year the disinformation by the opposition media has been
intense. The opposition's main campaigning was through local and
international media and social media, with very little street campaigning.
2) Many of those who do generally vote for the opposition do so because they
want to vote against the government (and everything demonic and evil the
private media has made it represent, "Castro-communism," where even droughts
are the national government's fault) or for ambiguous "change" after 16
years of Chavismo, without being particularly concerned or aware of what
that change is. Many of these people are of course upper class people who
resent the empowerment of the poor that has come with the revolutionary
process, but their ranks have been swollen by those frustrated by the last
two years of serious difficulties.
3) Other key factors bringing people to the opposition include encouragement
by the right-wing victory in Argentina, with a Trump-like figure due to
swear-in as president on Dec. 10, and younger generations in Venezuela who
now don't remember what it was like in Venezuela before Chavez was elected
in 1998 (18-year-old voters would have been 3-years-old at the time).
4) But while the opposition has attracted some of the less politically aware
social sectors to its anti-Chavismo discourse, the government has also lost
some ground from conscientious and solid revolutionaries, partly due to its
lack of a solid response to the opposition's "economic war". Although it's
easier said than done to combat a rentier state, capitalist system,
historical corruption, and big business's campaign of economic sabotage,
Maduro has only announced things like national commissions to deal with the
situation.
While people spend up to seven hours a week lining up for food, and while
many of them understand that the government isn't directly responsible for
the situation, the lack of a serious response and significant measures
hasn't helped support for the government.
5) Further, while the government clearly sides with the poor, for multiple
reasons including more right-wing attacks, it has becoming increasingly
distanced from the organized grassroots. "The government would have more of
a sense of urgency (in solving problems) if it was closer to the people in
the street," Rachael Boothroyd Rojas, community activist and
Venezuelanalysis journalist told teleSUR. That distance is relative to other
times in the Bolivarian revolution, not to other governments around the
world, who don't come close to the ties to the grassroots that the PSUV
government has.
However, with the way the government communicates with the people, the way
it gets information out and involves people in serious decision making-there
has been a step back in recent times. This aspect of the Bolivarian
revolution is perhaps the most important, so the significance of it and its
impact on people shouldn't be underestimated.
Likely consequences
The consequences are serious, but do not necessarily mark the end of the
revolution. Despite its financial resources and support from international
powers and elites, the opposition has not been strategic or intelligent and
won't be strategic with this new power.
Under Chavez and the revolution, they lost privileges and a lot of their
initial measures will be about getting revenge: probably things like kicking
out the Cuban doctors, making fun of the poor classes that have lost,
continuing to not collect garbage, and enjoying the praise from the
international media. They won't fix the economic problems, that's not their
aim, and after all, they (the business elites and wealthy people with access
to dollars) benefit from the crazy exchange rates and huge profits gained
from hoarding.
Further, with this and the right-wing win in Argentina, the talk of the left
losing Latin America will strengthen, the media as usual broadcasting how
they wish things were rather than any sort of complex analysis.
Nevertheless, two such losses will no doubt cause some regional demotivation
among progressives and have a significant impact on Latin American
integration bodies.
For PSUV politicians, there will hopefully be some reflection, and the
government will now be in the difficult position of having to compromise
with the opposition. Maduro and his ministers are still in power, but unable
to allocate extra income (beyond the budget for 2016, passed on Dec. 1) or
modify laws or approve bilateral and multilateral treaties.
After the referendum loss in 2007, Chavez moderated his discourse and
policies for a while, and Maduro may be forced to do so even more. It's hard
to know if in these circumstances, Maduro will turn to the grassroots for
more support, or will distrust them even more after loosing some of their
support, and if he will see the outcome as a need for reflection, or purely
the consequence of opposition sabotage.
For grassroots Chavistas, the majority of whom who have never been involved
in the revolution for the sake of financial resources, they will continue
organizing, promoting their progressive projects, their community
organizations, but under more difficult circumstances.
For the first time, they may not feel like the proud, governing majority in
the country. On the other hand, an opposition with power is more the reason
for strengthening organization. Having lost the luxury of taking victories
for granted, the grassroots will likely become even more serious. With an
emboldened opposition, they and their projects may also face verbal and
physical attacks.
For the wavering voters, in the long term, having the opposition in power
could be a bit of a reminder and reality check as they see that things get
worse for the majority of people.
That the opposition has won its second out of 20 elections under Chavismo
proves that all the U.S, European, opposition, and private media hype about
how undemocratic Venezuela's electoral system is false. Of course, their
reaction will be to claim that it was their "international pressure" that
kept things in check.
Overall though, this loss, while it is a big step back for the progressive
cause, it isn't the end of the line. The global struggle for a world that
puts people and planet first, for a democratically controlled economy and so
on, is a long term one with many ups and downs, defeats and victories.
Source: TeleSUR English
The US-backed opposition to Venezuela's Sociaist Party swept the December 6
elections, achieving a two thirds supermajority in that nation's
legislature.
by Tamara Pearson, Telesur English
Originally published at Venezuelanalysis.com
On December 6, Venezuela held its 20th election in 17 years and one of its
most difficult yet. With the opposition upping the ante in terms of media
attacks and sabotage, 2.5 years of economic difficulties and since the
passing of revolutionary leader Hugo Chavez, not to mention a recent
right-wing victory in Argentina, the left and right around the world turned
anxious eyes to Venezuela.
Ultimately, the Bolivarian revolution - the "Perfect Alliance" of the
governing United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) and other supportive
parties and organizations - lost at the polls with the right-wing, US-backed
opposition winning at least 99 seats, and 19 still to be decided.
Eighty-seven is necessary for a simple majority.
But what does this electoral loss for the revolutionary forces mean,
politically, and given the current context in Venezuela, what will the
consequences of it be, going forward?
Key factors
1) As usual, this year the disinformation by the opposition media has been
intense. The opposition's main campaigning was through local and
international media and social media, with very little street campaigning.
2) Many of those who do generally vote for the opposition do so because they
want to vote against the government (and everything demonic and evil the
private media has made it represent, "Castro-communism," where even droughts
are the national government's fault) or for ambiguous "change" after 16
years of Chavismo, without being particularly concerned or aware of what
that change is. Many of these people are of course upper class people who
resent the empowerment of the poor that has come with the revolutionary
process, but their ranks have been swollen by those frustrated by the last
two years of serious difficulties.
3) Other key factors bringing people to the opposition include encouragement
by the right-wing victory in Argentina, with a Trump-like figure due to
swear-in as president on Dec. 10, and younger generations in Venezuela who
now don't remember what it was like in Venezuela before Chavez was elected
in 1998 (18-year-old voters would have been 3-years-old at the time).
4) But while the opposition has attracted some of the less politically aware
social sectors to its anti-Chavismo discourse, the government has also lost
some ground from conscientious and solid revolutionaries, partly due to its
lack of a solid response to the opposition's "economic war". Although it's
easier said than done to combat a rentier state, capitalist system,
historical corruption, and big business's campaign of economic sabotage,
Maduro has only announced things like national commissions to deal with the
situation.
While people spend up to seven hours a week lining up for food, and while
many of them understand that the government isn't directly responsible for
the situation, the lack of a serious response and significant measures
hasn't helped support for the government.
5) Further, while the government clearly sides with the poor, for multiple
reasons including more right-wing attacks, it has becoming increasingly
distanced from the organized grassroots. "The government would have more of
a sense of urgency (in solving problems) if it was closer to the people in
the street," Rachael Boothroyd Rojas, community activist and
Venezuelanalysis journalist told teleSUR. That distance is relative to other
times in the Bolivarian revolution, not to other governments around the
world, who don't come close to the ties to the grassroots that the PSUV
government has.
However, with the way the government communicates with the people, the way
it gets information out and involves people in serious decision making-there
has been a step back in recent times. This aspect of the Bolivarian
revolution is perhaps the most important, so the significance of it and its
impact on people shouldn't be underestimated.
Likely consequences
The consequences are serious, but do not necessarily mark the end of the
revolution. Despite its financial resources and support from international
powers and elites, the opposition has not been strategic or intelligent and
won't be strategic with this new power.
Under Chavez and the revolution, they lost privileges and a lot of their
initial measures will be about getting revenge: probably things like kicking
out the Cuban doctors, making fun of the poor classes that have lost,
continuing to not collect garbage, and enjoying the praise from the
international media. They won't fix the economic problems, that's not their
aim, and after all, they (the business elites and wealthy people with access
to dollars) benefit from the crazy exchange rates and huge profits gained
from hoarding.
Further, with this and the right-wing win in Argentina, the talk of the left
losing Latin America will strengthen, the media as usual broadcasting how
they wish things were rather than any sort of complex analysis.
Nevertheless, two such losses will no doubt cause some regional demotivation
among progressives and have a significant impact on Latin American
integration bodies.
For PSUV politicians, there will hopefully be some reflection, and the
government will now be in the difficult position of having to compromise
with the opposition. Maduro and his ministers are still in power, but unable
to allocate extra income (beyond the budget for 2016, passed on Dec. 1) or
modify laws or approve bilateral and multilateral treaties.
After the referendum loss in 2007, Chavez moderated his discourse and
policies for a while, and Maduro may be forced to do so even more. It's hard
to know if in these circumstances, Maduro will turn to the grassroots for
more support, or will distrust them even more after loosing some of their
support, and if he will see the outcome as a need for reflection, or purely
the consequence of opposition sabotage.
For grassroots Chavistas, the majority of whom who have never been involved
in the revolution for the sake of financial resources, they will continue
organizing, promoting their progressive projects, their community
organizations, but under more difficult circumstances.
For the first time, they may not feel like the proud, governing majority in
the country. On the other hand, an opposition with power is more the reason
for strengthening organization. Having lost the luxury of taking victories
for granted, the grassroots will likely become even more serious. With an
emboldened opposition, they and their projects may also face verbal and
physical attacks.
For the wavering voters, in the long term, having the opposition in power
could be a bit of a reminder and reality check as they see that things get
worse for the majority of people.
That the opposition has won its second out of 20 elections under Chavismo
proves that all the U.S, European, opposition, and private media hype about
how undemocratic Venezuela's electoral system is false. Of course, their
reaction will be to claim that it was their "international pressure" that
kept things in check.
Overall though, this loss, while it is a big step back for the progressive
cause, it isn't the end of the line. The global struggle for a world that
puts people and planet first, for a democratically controlled economy and so
on, is a long term one with many ups and downs, defeats and victories.
Source: TeleSUR English
