[CubaNews] Salim Lamrani: Hugo Chávez and Constitutional Reform

["Walter Lippmann" <walterlx@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hugo Chávez and Constitutional Reform
September 17th 2007, by Salim Lamrani

http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/2609

The constitutional reform project introduced by the Venezuelan President on
August 15, 2007 has provoked an unprecedented media frenzy. For several days
the western media obsessively focused on this, after all, banal event. The
proposal seeks to modify 33 of the 350 articles of the 1999 Constitution.
(1) But the media only concentrated on the proposed change to Article 230
that would repeal the limit on presidential terms currently set at two
terms. (2) The French press, among others, immediately denounced Chávez?
intention to ?remain in power? (3) and criticized the Venezuelan president?s
?temptation of total power? claiming he aimed to ?become the sacrosanct
leader.? (4)

It is both curious and ironic that the French press feign to be offended by
Chávez? attempt at a third term when presidential term limits are not
constitutionally limited in France. According to the French Magna Carta,
President Nicolas Sarkozy could go on governing for the next 30 years, if
reelected, without any problem. The same goes for countries such as United
Kingdom, Germany, Italy, Portugal, and most other European nations. This
fact has never aroused the slightest critique from the western media. Why is
it that what is acceptable in the West is not acceptable for Third World
nations? These attacks reek of inadmissible colonialism and clearly
illustrate the intention of the transnational press to demonize the
democratic and popular government of President Chávez at whatever cost.

In fact, the completely legal Venezuelan reform will not be adopted by
decree. First it must be extensively debated throughout the country. Then it
has to be approved by 167 National Assembly deputies. And lastly, it has to
be submitted to public referendum. (5) In sum, the people have the last
word. A reform could not be more democratic. Moreover, the current
constitution allows the opposition to participate in the debate and
formulate concrete proposals. (6) But that is of little interest to the
detractors of Hugo Chávez, who have launched a worldwide disinformation
campaign with the complicity of the western media, the White House and the
European Union. (7)

The opposition has sworn to block the constitutional reform by any means
claiming that it poses a threat to democracy. Opposition leader Manuel
Rosales, who participated in the coup attempt of April 2002, denounced the
?constitutional coup? and announced that he would oppose the reform project.
(8)

For his part, Hugo Chávez called on the people to resist the media
propaganda and proliferate national and local debates regarding the project
(9). He also warned against destabilization attempts orchestrated by the
opposition, who was responsible for the bloody coup attempt and the
subsequent disastrous sabotage of the oil industry in December 2002. ?The
conspiracies have already begun [...]. Until late last night I met with the
minister of the People?s Power for Defense, members of the military high
command, the commanders of the Army, National Guard, and the Navy;
evaluating, because messages have already begun to circulate and arrive at
the barracks, [...]. The hand of the CIA is behind it,? Chávez accused. (11)

In closing he reiterated his conviction that the opposition would be
?crushed and pulverized? during the upcoming consultative referendum on the
Constitutional Reform Project. (12) A new triumph for the most popular man
in Latin America is very probable, given that he has won 12 consecutive
electoral victories since his presidential election in 1998. The National
Assembly will decide on the reform in November 2007 after three months of
discussions and debates. (13) The referendum will be convoked within 30 days
of the project?s approval. (14)

It is worth mentioning that the media, so long-winded about this matter,
have hardly mentioned the rest of the proposed reforms. In addition to
annulling presidential terms limits and extending the duration of terms from
six years to seven, the project also proposes to establish a ?social
stability fund? that would guarantee workers ?fundamental rights such as
retirement, pensions, vacations, prenatal and postnatal leave and other
others...? (15) The workday would be limited to six hours creating a 36-hour
workweek and employers would be prohibited from forcing wage earners to work
overtime. ?The exploitation of workers? would become unacceptable. (16)

The reforms would also abolish the autonomy of the Central Bank thus
allowing subsidies to be applied to social programs. In addition, communal
councils that play a direct role in decision-making would be multiplied in
order to promote a more participatory democracy. New forms of ownership with
a cooperative character would be created, without eradicating private
property. Land currently not in production would be distributed among rural
farmers. Similarly, the reform would write ?the express interdiction of
large estates? into the constitution as well as the prohibition of all
monopolies. ?The state reserves [the right to], for reasons of national
sovereignty, development and interests, the exploitation of liquid, solid
and gaseous hydrocarbons.? Likewise, it would make impossible the
privatization of the nation?s natural resources. (17) The media has censored
all these reforms.

?This ambition to accumulate money and wealth is one of the causes of the
downfall of humanity,? declared Chávez, who stated his intention to build a
more just society. (18) So far, from his position of power, the Venezuelan
president has carried out spectacular social reforms that have greatly
improved Venezuelan living standards. After recovering control of the
national petroleum company PDVSA and nationalizing the petroleum,
electricity, and telephone sectors, eradicating illiteracy in 2005,
distributing 3 million hectares of land to rural farmers, universalizing
education and health care, and conducting nearly 200 thousand surgeries for
cataracts and other ocular diseases free of charge, he built housing en
masse for the most needy, subsidized basic food stuffs by 40%, raised the
minimum wage making it the highest in Latin America ($286USD/month), and
decreased the work week from 44 hours to 36. No other government in the
world has done so much in so little time. (19)

Hugo Chávez has extended his aid to the other American nations. ?Brazilian
workers have recovered their jobs, Nicaraguan farmers received credits and
Bolivian mayors can build health clinics all thanks to Venezuelan President
Hugo Chávez,? reported the Associated Press. Currently Venezuela offers
direct financial support to the American continent. In 2007, Chávez has so
far provided no less than $8,8 billion in fuel donations, financing, and
aid, in contrast to the $3 billion that has come from the Bush
administration. The Bolivarian government?s aid is unprecedented in Latin
American history, with the exception of Cuba?s humanitarian missions. Even
U.S. citizens, abandoned by their own government, have receiving subsidized
fuel thanks to Venezuela?s altruistic policy. (20)

So it is of little surprise that the Venezuelan president has become the
most popular leader in the world. Advocating the emancipation of those
constantly humbled by an unsustainable economic order, Chávez has sparked
hope not only in his own people, who are now inexorable actors in
establishing the trajectory of their country; but he is also a source of
inspiration for the dispossessed around the globe. Conversely, to the rulers
of the world, Hugo Chávez is a dangerous example. He is a leader who refuses
their tutelage and calls into question their devastating hegemony. In
retaliation they strive to discredit him by any means possible with the
cowardly complicity of the western media that, tossing journalistic ethics
out the window, does not hesitate in the least to manipulate reality and
excel in the realm of disinformation.

Translation by Dawn Gable.

Notes

(1) Hugo Chávez Frías, ?Presentación del proyecto de Reforma Constitucional
ante la Asamblea Nacional, por parte del presidente Hugo Chávez,? Agencia
Bolivariana de Noticias, 15 August, 2007.

(2) Le Monde, ?Au Venezuela, Hugo Chávez présente sa réforme
constitutionnelle,? 16 August, 2007.

(3) Libération, ?Hugo Chávez veut modifier la Constitution pour rester au
pouvoir,? 16 August, 2007.

(4) Stéphanie Schüler, ?Chávez ? la tentation du pouvoir total ,? Radio
France International, 16 August, 2007.

(5) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Batallones socialistas crearán
voluntariado para debatir reforma constitucional,? 25 August, 2007.

(6) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Chávez exhorta arreciar batalla
ideológica para frenar campaña contra reforma,? 26 August, 2007.

(7) Christopher Toothaker, ?Ex mentor de Chávez rechaza su reforma,?
Associated Press, 22 August, 2007.

(8) Fabiola Sánchez, ?Opositores a Chávez lucharán contra reforma
constitucional,? Associated Press, 17 August, 2007.

(9) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Carta Magna garantiza a la oposición
hacer propuestas sobre reforma ante la AN,? 25 August, 2007.

(10) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Reforma constitucional profundizará
la Revolución Bolivariana,? 25 de agosto 2007; Agencia Bolivariana de
Noticias, ?Chávez denuncia que comenzó conspiración contra Reforma
Constitucional,? 19 August, 2007.

(11) The Associated Press, ?Chávez acusa a opositores de conspirar en su
contra,? 20 August, 2007.

(12) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Oposición será aplastada en próximo
referendo sobre la reforma,? 25 August, 2007.

(13) The Associated Press, ?Congreso venezolano espera aprobar pronto
reforma constitucional,? 23 de August, 2007; Agencia Bolivariana de
Noticias, ?Todos los sectores del país analizarán Proyecto de Reforma
Constitucional,? 23 August, 2007.

(14) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?CNE convocará a referendo tras
aprobación del proyecto por la Asamblea Nacional,? 23 August, 2007; Agencia
Bolivariana de Noticias, ?CNE trabaja en el diseño del referendo
constitucional,? 22 August, 2007.

(15) Hugo Chávez Frías, ? Presentación del proyecto de Reforma
Constitucional ante la Asamblea Nacional, por parte del presidente Hugo
Chávez,? op. cit.; Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Gobierno nacional
trabaja en reivindicación del derecho a la pensión,? 22 August, 2007;
Pascual Serrano, ?El golpe de Estado de Chávez,? Rebelión, 17 August, 2007.

(16) Hugo Chávez Frías, ? Presentación del proyecto de Reforma
Constitucional ante la Asamblea Nacional, por parte del presidente Hugo
Chávez,? op. cit.; Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Rivero: Nueva jornada
laboral planteará horarios de mutuo acuerdo,? 22 August, 2007; Pascual
Serrano, ?El golpe de Estado de Chávez,? op. cit.

(17) Ibid.

(18) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Chávez destacó moral socialista como
base de nuevo modelo de país,? 20 August, 2007.

(19) Agencia Bolivariana de Noticias, ?Venezuela con el salario mínimo más
alto de Latinoamérica,? 20 de abril de 2007; Ignacio Ramonet, ?Hugo Chávez,?
Le Monde Diplomatique, August, 2007, p. 1.

(20) Natalie Obiko Pearson & Ian James, ?Exclusiva AP: Venezuela ofrece
miles de millones a Latinoamérica,? Associated Press, 26 August, 2007; The
Associated Press, ?Ayuda venezolana a Latinoamérica y el Caribe en el 2007,?
26 August, 2007.

Salim Lamrani is a French professor, writer and journalist specializing in
relations between Cuba and the United States. He has published the following
books: Washington contre Cuba (Pantin: Le Temps des Cerises, 2005), Cuba
face à l?Empire (Genève: Timeli, 2006) y Fidel Castro, Cuba et les
Etats-Unis (Pantin: Le Temps des Cerises, 2006).

Dawn Gable is a freelance translator, writer and activist and member of the
Venezuela Solidarity Network and the Santa Cruz Cuba Study Group.

    * Printer-friendly version




To view the current thirty CubaNews messages:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/messages

If this message was forwarded to you, subscription details may be found here:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/

To unsubscribe from this CubaNews group, send an email to:
CubaNews-unsubscribe@yahoogroups. 
Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CubaNews/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    mailto:CubaNews-digest@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
    mailto:CubaNews-fullfeatured@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    CubaNews-unsubscribe@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/