|
VENEZUELA
Historic reelection of Chávez
BY
NIDIA DIAZ —Granma International staff writer—
WITH
the resounding reelection of Venezuelan President
Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías on December 3, with more
than seven million votes, a series of important
definitions and advances by the continent’s leftist
forces has come to a close, announcing not just the
inevitable end of the neoliberal model and
dependence on the empire, but also the growing
awareness that capitalism is not a safe port for our
people.
For
the fourth time in eight years of leadership, the
leader of the Bolivarian Revolution submitted
himself to the verdict of the voting booths. For the
fourth time, he received the growing vote of support
of the immense majority of Venezuelan people who in
legitimizing him once again, have demonstrated their
democratic vocation to the world and their
unwavering decision that the Bolivarian Revolution
is here to stay.
At
10:20 p.m. on Dec. 3, the National Electoral Council
(NEC) issued – to the unrestrained euphoria of the
people – the first official figures, confirming
Chávez’ victory with more than 61% of the vote, and
the predicted defeat of those who would return to
the past.
Those who voted this time revealed a deep-rooted
level of consciousness. It was not just a matter of
defending the social accomplishments of the
Bolivarian process, unimaginable in the times of the
bourgeois republic. Neither was it one of preventing
– out of fear – the return of the white terror,
which viciously showed its claws in April 2002 when
its representatives carried out an assault on power
and kidnapped the president.
Those who voted did so for socialism, that native,
indigenous, Christian and Bolivarian socialism that
Chávez talked of throughout his campaign, even at
the risk of increasing the empire’s hostility, the
oligarchy’s violence and the mainstream media’s
discredit and demonization. The die was cast.
The
Venezuelan people opted to build an indigenous
socialism, going against those who in the late 1980s
were celebrating the fall of socialism in Europe and
clinking their glasses to the “end of history,” in a
macabre toast that referred to the end of the left
and of progressive and revolutionary processes in
the world. That was the euphoria and confidence that
the empire felt during those years, as it imposed
its unilateral hegemony.
The
Venezuelan people, aware that their revolutionary
process is a point of reference for other nations in
Latin America and the Caribbean, took as their own
the words of the Liberator this December 3, cited by
President Chávez on the night of his victory, as a
heavy rain seemed to fall as a blessing on his
reelection: “What we have done today is just a
prelude to what we will do.”
STARTING POINT
On
February 2, 1999, at Miraflores Palace, Hugo Chávez
received the presidential sash and a heavy legacy,
which more than few believed to be unsalvageable.
Unemployment was at about 20% at the time and
underemployment at 50%; almost one million children
were not attending school, and just one of every
five who entered elementary school were finishing.
Fifteen percent of Venezuelan children were dying
from malnutrition, and 45% of adolescents were being
recruited to crime. A study carried out by the
National Congress itself showed that in 1996, 50% of
the population was impoverished.
The
solidarity offered by Cuba and a policy of
recovering the most important of Venezuela’s natural
resources, oil, would serve to finance the social
and development programs that the country needed.
For the first time since its nationalization, oil
profits were placed at the disposition of the people
and not of the elite.
The
road was not an easy one. The opposition,
representing the interests of the oligarchy and U.S.
transnational corporations, tried everything to
block change. First, there was the fascist coup, and
then, relentlessly, the oil strike (lockout). These
were setbacks that instead of creating obstacles to
the process radicalized it further.
In
eight years, the Bolivarian government laid the
foundations for awakening national consciousness and
creating the tools to pay the social debt to the
people.
Its
“missions” – social programs – have been the key to
that change.
Barrio Adentro (Into the Neighborhood), with the
collaboration of thousands of Cuban doctors, has
provided primary health care, including with
specialist and advanced diagnostics, to 17 million
Venezuelans, many of whom had never received health
care. During these years, more than 220 million
doctors’ consultations have been made, completely
free of charge, and medications have been provided
on the same terms. Infant and maternal mortality
have dropped, and via Operation Miracle, tens of
thousands of Venezuelan patients have had their
vision restored.
With
the Cuban literacy method, “Yo, sí puedo” (Yes, I
Can Do It), Mission Robinson taught 1.5 million
citizens how to read and write, and an equal number
are now studying for their sixth-grade diplomas.
Missions Ribas and Sucre have enabled almost one
million students to enroll in middle and high school
classes, previously abandoned due to financial
reasons. In the first, 613,000 young people are
enrolled, and in the second, half a million.
Fifteen million Venezuelans can purchase foodstuffs
subsidized by the State, which has built 6,000
markets for that purpose; at the same time, the
country has attained food self-sufficiency,
producing 90% of the food it consumes.
Missions Vuelvan Caras (Faces Return), Negra
Hipólita and Madres de Barrio (Neighborhood Mothers)
provide training for the unemployed, combat poverty
and help single mothers to become incorporated into
the new Venezuela’s productive and social life.
Just
in the 2007 budget, 65% is dedicated to social
spending, without neglecting support for small
businesses, cooperatives, the People’s Bank and the
Bank for Women and Communal Councils, which is to
receive 1.395 million for its development.
These are figures that point to the construction of
a long-term model, which has placed ordinary men and
women, marginalized and excluded for more than 50
years of the bourgeois republic, at the center of
decision-making and future projects.
These are figures that are accompanied by a strong
economic upturn, and that express, moreover, a solid
tendency toward expansion of the gross domestic
product (GDP), which has remained as high as 10.2%
over the last 12 trimesters. For the first time in
the country’s history, non-oil economic activity has
grown by 10.1% in the manufacturing industry; 19.4%
in commerce and 35.1% in construction. This dynamism
is reflected in an increase in consumption,
investment, more credits for the productive sectors
and greater public spending, linked to social
programs.
These are figures of truth, inclusion, the
definitive uprooting of the demagogy of the
traditional politicians, those who have now lost
their place at the voting booth.
This
scenario of advances is the one that explains,
moreover, the growing support from citizens.
STRONGER ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE
This
latest victory by Chávez and the Bolivarian
Revolution comes in the midst of Venezuela’s
increasingly stronger role on the international
scene, which is expressed in its leadership in the
regional integration process, and the progress of
its initiatives, like the Bolivarian Alternative for
the Americas (ALBA), which shut down the advance of
the FTAA promoted by Washington, an instrument of
domination and subjection of our nations, a new form
of colonization.
Petrocaribe, the great oil pipeline of the South;
agreements with China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Russia;
the approach to Africa and the battle against a
unipolar world, are an inherent part of this new
model of society that Venezuela is taking forward,
and that from this December 3 will continue its
course toward what President Chávez has described as
“socialism of the 21st century.”
This
is sufficient reason for this new and resounding
victory of the Venezuelan people at the polls and of
their top leader to be a universal fiesta for all
who believe that a better world is possible and who
are fighting to attain it.
RECUADROS
The victory in figures
Hugo
Chávez won 7,161,637 votes, for 62.89% of ballots
cast. His closest rival, the governor of Zulia, had
to be satisfied with 37.18%
of the vote.
The Bolivarian leader won with a 25.71 percentage
point-lead over Rosales.
The abstention rate was 25.09%, the lowest in 18
years.
He won in every state
President Chávez won in every state of the nation
and in the capital district. In Zulia and Nueva
Esparta, the only states where the opposition
governs, he defeated Rosales with 50.57% and 58.49%,
respectively.
In 8 states, he won more than 70% of the vote:
Portuguesa, 75.27%
Amazonas, 73.37%
Aragua, 71.12%
Cojedes, 71.73%
Delta Amacuro, 74.37%
Sucre, 73.04%
Guarico, 70.59%
Monagas, 70.43%
In 11 he won more than 60% of the vote:
Anzoátegui, 60.19%
Apure, 69.10%
Barinas, 68.74%
Bolívar, 67.16%
Carabobo, 60.59%
Falcón, 60.96%
Distrito Capital, 61.56%
Lara, 64.87%
Trujillo, 68.86%
Vargas, 68.70%
Yaracuy, 63.85%
In 5 states he won more than 50% of the vote
Mérida, 52%
Miranda, 55.09%
Nueva Esparta, 58.49%
Táchira, 50.81%
Zulia, 50.57% |
