Leaderless Venezuelan Opposition damns Chavez vote bid

The following BBC article attempts to portray recent political events in Venezuela. Adopting the view of local opposition, it reports on the reaction to prospects of extending Chavez´s tenure in power after 2012. Thus, it missed the opportunity to clarify meaningful events to readers. First, local opposition remains undemocratic, divided and has no leader to run against President Chavez yet. Contrary to the official party- PSUV-, Venezuelan opposition parties do not fancy primary election to select their leaders. Only a small group negotiates the appointment of candidates and who would run in elections undemocratically. Second, the Venezuelan Constitution allows referenda to be called by the President, the Parliament or the people. Last year and after the President called for a Referendum to reform the Constitution, Venezuelans were consulted on quite a number of topics including the extension of Chavez´s tenure in office and the adoption of socialist orientated constitutional provisions. The government nearly turned the country socialist and failed the referendum.   However, the vote was on such a variety of complex issues that it is misleading to assume the population rejected the extension of Chavez´s tenure in office. His surprisingly high popularity after so many years in office would certainly contradict such allegation. Third, it is not Chavez who is directly calling on the extension of his chances to run for the Presidency in 2021. This time, the referendum initiative would correspond to either Parliament or the people. The government currently favours a Parliamentary initiative. Local Parliament is dominated by Chavez´s allies after the opposition decided not to participate in parliamentary elections few years ago. Such ill timed decision, prevented the emergence of new and young leaders among opposition cadres. In addition, it also affected its  real chances of opposing any governmental led plan or policy such the coming referendum.   Finally and despite the possibility of Chavez´s participation in the 2012 presidential elections, his winning chances are up to his government efficiency and performance during world economic recession and falling oil prices. By arguing against Chavez´s bid, the opposition concedes self defeat as it has no popular leader capable of winning presidential elections.

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