People's Democracy

EDITORIAL 

Tremendous Victory In Venezuela

WHILE India was celebrating its Independence Day, another important event was taking place on the other side of the world, in Venezuela. On August 15, a nationwide referendum was held to decide whether President Hugo Chavez should be recalled and fresh elections held. The referendum resulted in a decisive victory for Chavez. Out of the 94 percent of the vote counted so far, 58.25 per cent of the voters gave a No vote for the demand for recall. 41.75 per cent said Yes to the recall. The difference between the two votes was a huge 16 percentage points.

The referendum marked another major victory for the democratically elected president of Venezuela, who has faced since his first election in 1998 repeated efforts by the rightwing opposition to dislodge him. Under Chavez a new constitution was adopted in 1999 and he was reelected with a big mandate in the year 2000. It is under the provisions of the Constitution which Chavez championed that the right to recall was provided, a democratic provision which does not exist in the constitutions of all the “democracies” led by the United States who oppose Chavez.

The reactionary opposition represented by the big business, landlords and  a section of the church has had the full backing of the  Bush administration in its efforts to topple Chavez. In April 2002, a coup took place. But it was foiled by popular mobilisation and the bulk of the army rallying behind Chavez. This was followed by a strike in the oil sector engineered by the opposition and continuous resort to violence and street clashes to destabilise the progressive government.

When all this failed, the opposition mounted its campaign to hold a referendum by collecting the necessary number of signatures. Chavez respecting the Constitution decided to hold the referendum. Chavez repeatedly pledged to abide by the result of the referendum but none of the opposition leaders made a similar promise.

International observers headed by the former US President Carter have endorsed the fairness of the poll. Yet the opposition Coordinadora Democratics (CD) has refused to accept the vote. The visceral hatred for Chavez and his Bolivarian revolution stems from the pro-people, pro-poor policies initiated by Chavez. Under the agrarian reform law, 2.26 million hectares of land have been distributed. For the first time, millions of poor school children are getting free education and the slums are being provided with health care. It is these measures which have won Chavez enduring popular support.

Hailing the result, Chavez has declared that it is a victory against the intrigues of Bush and the White House. He called upon the United States to stop interfering in the internal affairs of Venezuela and respect the democratic verdict. The victory of the popular forces in Venezuela is yet another landmark in the rising struggles against the neo-liberal policies for which Latin America had become the first laboratory.

All the progressive and democratic forces worldwide will hail the news from Venezuela. It is a tremendous victory for the brave people of Venezuela who have once again signaled that they will be the masters of their own destiny.