Fri May 18, 2012
Paola Romero
Voting for Change in Venezuela
By Paola Romero, Venezuela – September 2010
As a 24 year-old Venezuelan, involved in the democratic opposition campaign for the National Assembly elections to be held on September 26, I am optimistic about the future. For many young people like me, this Parliamentary election is our chance to vote for change so our democratic beliefs can be instituted. Voting is not only our right; it is our duty and moral obligation.
For more than a decade, we have faced the gradual yet deliberate destruction of our public institutions, being forced to modify democratic traditions in exchange for centralized political control modeled after Castro´s Cuba. Venezuelans under President Hugo Chávez (who has been in power since 1998) have been subjected to his “Socialism for the 21st Century” agenda which has been characterized by attacks on personal freedoms, an abuse of Executive powers, a profound resentment against the middle class, private industry, academia, the Church and independent NGO´s, and a complete distortion of the country’s democratic and free-market history.
After nine months of vicious campaigning, Chavez’s allies in the PSUV (the United Socialist Party of Venezuela) and the democratic Opposition have fought for the 165 seats that are up for election. Not surprisingly, Chavez’s government has abused its power by using national media for propaganda and explicit intimidation. Clearly Chavez will go to any length to get his party’s candidates elected so his power can be guaranteed for the next decade or more.
But victory for the PSUV does not appear to be a sure-thing. In fact, in mid-September polling conducted by Keller & Asociados showed that, 77% of the population will vote on September 26 and that percentage is divided with 30% backing Chavez’s candidates and 33% saying they will vote for the opposition candidates, with another 37% who say they are still undecided.
Although Chavez has been losing popular support, he is still considered a “heavy-weight” in national affairs and his party’s candidates are viewed as an extension of his goals. Indeed they are seen as the obedient custodians of the “Bolivarian Revolution”.
But while the outcome of the election is unclear, what is not in question is the fact that more than 59% of Venezuelans support a plural and autonomous National Assembly, and they indentify corruption and criminality as the two major issues which need to be addressed once the delegates are elected.
While Chavez sees the country going through a “step by step” transition into socialism, where private industries pass into government hands, and the opposition force of dissidence is eradicated and dissolved, others are pushing for an alternative conception of the role of the State in society – one in which the branches of government (the Executive, Legislative and the Judiciary) are autonomous and responsible, where freedom of speech is promoted and not punished, and where colleges and universities are not seen as a threat but as a safe haven for knowledge and tolerance.
I am confident that this election will be one of many victories for the democratic opposition. In speaking with people in my country – looking at their faces, understanding their needs and frustrations has meant a lot to me. I have learned that people are sick and tired of speeches that offer empty of solutions. People are tired of hearing the vague promises of revolutionary changes that only portend disenchantment.
Venezuela faces difficult times. But we can no longer be governed by a false ideology that is breeding resentment and hate. On September 26 I will vote for freedom not for irrational obedience. I will vote for democracy, not for authoritarianism. I will vote for hope for my generation and for all Venezuelans.
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I feel proud of young Venezuelans like Paola, who wants to fight for a free, modern and liberal Venezuela, and who, with articles like this one, can let people abroad understand the difficult timest we have been experiencing in the last 11 years.
Paola, muy buen reporte de el acontecimiento nacional
Ojala segun tu opinion, nos veamos liberados de esta pesadilla.
Un abrazo,
Eduardo.
Certainly I agree with the author´s view. Venezuelan democracy is at crossroads now. The communist agenda Mr. Chavez is trying to implant in Venezuela, needs of the control of Venezuela´s National Assembly. So, the outcome of this coming election is important in creating a more plural legislative stance. In writings like this, one hopes that Venezuela will have generations of young and commited citizens that will assure the return to a real and productive democracy. Living in Venezuela I certainly share the authors optimism.