Venezuela’s Political Landscape: 2000-2005 Elections & Key Events

2000 Elections

The general election of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela was held on July 30, 2000. This was the third election under the new constitution of Venezuela adopted in 1999, the first for elected office (the former were a referendum). It was simultaneously the presidential election for head of state, in turn with the regional elections, municipal and parliamentary elections. For this reason, they are popularly known as “mega-elections”.

In these elections, Hugo Chávez, the incumbent president of the republic, was reelected for the period (January 10, 2001 – January 10, 2007). These elections were held just a year and a half after the initial presidential term, rather than the past five years (1999-2004) established under the Constitution of Venezuela of 1961. However, with the approval of the New Constitution of Venezuela in 1999 by Referendum on December 15, 1999, elections were called to re-legitimize all elected offices in compliance with the new constitution, establishing a new presidential term of 6 years beginning the following January 10.

Hugo Chavez 2001-2007:

2001: Year of the Enabling Laws

Two major groups of enabling laws were set by President Hugo Chávez between 1999 and 2001. These included tax laws, the elimination of some agencies, the modernization of administrative procedures, and relationships between the state and the private sector. During this year, President Hugo Chávez also specifically focused on the establishment of microfinance, as well as laws governing the private sector’s production activities. Likewise, reforms and the Hydrocarbons Law established the Bank of Economic and Social Development of Venezuela. It thus took over the oil industry as a company belonging to the nation.

2002: Year of the Anti-Imperialist Resistance

The year 2002 was marked by the coup generated from the call to boycott work promoted by the Federation of Chambers of Commerce and Production Associations of Venezuela (Fedecamaras). This resulted in the events of April 11, 12, and 13 of that year, when opposition groups and the government failed in their attempt to permanently remove the president from office. Under the actions of military groups loyal to the government and popular support, Hugo Chávez Frías was brought back to presidential command.

2003: Year of the Counteroffensive Revolutionary Anti-Imperialist Victory

The decision, courage, and firmness of President Hugo Chávez Frías were crucial to successfully joining the sovereign people and its military forces against the unprecedented imperialist attack perpetrated against Venezuela. Despite the oil sabotage, in 2003 PDVSA increased its profits by 1.5 billion, achieving a saving of 3.1 billion.

2004: Year of the Revolutionary People’s Great Victory

August 15, 2004, may be considered one of the most significant dates in recent political history. At that time, and for the first time in the nation, a referendum took place to assess the governance of the President. The result of that event of participatory democracy was a resounding victory for the approval of the presidential term of President Hugo Chávez Frías, marking a milestone in national history, at continental and global levels, as he became the first Head of State to undergo this type of specific consultation in the world.

2005: Year of the Leap Forward, to the Construction of 21st Century Socialism

During this year, the government of President Hugo Chávez Frías was able to position and expand the influence of social missions. These massive programs contributed to the birth of new institutions and a new social vision underlying the revolutionary process as emergent structures that give shape to an institutional viability where many organizations go beyond their exclusive areas of competence to achieve a common goal.

2006: Year of Popular Participation

The year 2006 brought a new opportunity to reaffirm both democratic legitimacy and the importance and extension of the Simón Bolívar Project 2000. This was achieved with the popular victory gained by President Hugo Chávez in the elections on December 3 of this year.

Similarly, during this period, the Bolivarian government inaugurated a series of infrastructure projects aimed at improving the physical conditions of several cities and increasing the quality of public services to the whole society through such works and support for social missions.

Oil Strike of 2002-2003

The political events known as the oil strike of 2002-2003, also called National Strike and General Strike, consisted of a strike or work stoppage and general economic and indefinite action against the government of Venezuela headed by Hugo Chávez. It was promoted mainly by the employers’ association Fedecamaras and supported by higher-rate workers, payroll, and daily retail company Petroleos de Venezuela (PDVSA), the opposition parties grouped together in the Democratic Coordinator coalition, the Confederation of Venezuelan Workers (CTV), various political organizations like Súmate, and even private media (press, radio, and television). The strike lasted from December 2002 until February 2003, making it one of the longest general strikes in history. For the supporters of President Chavez, this event is called “Oil Sabotage” or “Oil Shock“, while in the opposition sectors it has been called “National Civic Strike“.

The 2004 Presidential Recall Referendum

On August 15, Venezuelans participated in a new process in the country: the Presidential Recall Referendum. Meeting all the requirements under the Electoral Law and supported by the new Constitution adopted in 1999, the citizens of Venezuela, both within and outside its territory, were able to evaluate the current management of President Hugo Chávez Frías. The decision was made with a simple NO or YES. However, the process was not that simple.

Many obstacles were overcome for the realization of the Presidential Recall Referendum: marches, various protest actions, many days to collect signatures in the light of changing rules, and even objections to those same signatures. Also, in support of this electoral process, there were long sessions of negotiations between the parties under the auspices of the OAS and the Carter Center, but that did not stop the daily life of tear gas, the detention of dozens of prisoners, many wounded, and the loss of human lives.

A new arbitrator had to be appointed from the Supreme Court, and international observation played a key role.

Venezuela’s Regional Elections, 2004

These elections were held on October 31. Approximately 14 million Venezuelans elected governors in 22 states of Venezuela, the mayors of 332 municipalities, and the mayors of two districts, including the Capital District. The abstention rate was 54.27%, an increase of 24.5% compared to the last election of this type (43.6%).

Campaign and Preparations

The elections had originally been announced for late September, but the National Electoral Council changed the date citing technical difficulties. The OAS did not participate as international observers in these elections. The campaign was organized by the ruling Maisanta Command, and its objectives were to triple the number of municipalities under their power, which in the last elections were a hundred.

Participation

Candidates supported by President Hugo Chávez won a clear victory, winning 20 of the 22 governorates in dispute. They also won the vast majority of mayors. In these elections, the ruling party Movimiento V República and its ally “Podemos” resorted to the use of so-called “brunette postcards.” This technique, first used by Eduardo Lapi in 2000, encourages voters to cast their ballots for the candidate and vote for two different party lists on two different cards. Thus, parties that have these cards can access more positions than they would have received if the voter had voted for the candidate and party list on one card. In this election, thanks to “brunettes,” despite having only 48.6% of the vote, Chavez supporters were able to occupy 74.8% of the positions involved.

Consequences and Reactions

The Venezuelan opposition was weakened by this consultation, losing 6 of the 8 governorates they controlled. They also lost the majority of the 220 mayors they had won in 2000. President Chavez said the opposition “had dug its own grave” by persisting in their allegations of fraud in the last referendum. He also proclaimed the start of a new phase of “deepening the Bolivarian revolution.” The government candidates won 270 mayors, 83% of the national total.

National Assembly 2005

The second Venezuelan National Assembly was elected in the 2005 parliamentary elections. After the call to abstention by the Venezuelan opposition, the elected National Assembly was composed entirely of government officials. Of the 167 deputies elected, only two seats had not been granted by the Alliance for Change party formed by Revolutionary MVR, Podemos, PPT, PCV, UVE, UPV, MEP, among others. The members of their parties and FUNDACIDI Amarisa were the only ones who achieved their position without the coalition. The party that participated as VEE electoral platform won 4 seats and joined the MVR at the start of the parliamentary sessions.