Chavez dealt blow in parliament elections

[yllus]

The Economist has a little bit on how Chavez has continued to stack the deck in his own favour.

Venezuela's legislative election: Chávez grapples with a 50/50 nation

The polls suggest that the electorate is almost equally divided. Even GIS XXI, a pollster with close ties to the government, gives the ruling Unified Socialist Party (PSUV) and its Communist allies a lead of only 5.2% over the opposition alliance. But changes to the electoral system rammed through by the government mean that a narrow lead is enough to give the PSUV a landslide victory. The changes abolish proportional representation, even though it is written into the 1999 constitution. And poorer, rural states where Mr Chávez has more support will be significantly over-represented in the new assembly.

Jesse Chacón, a former interior minister who now runs GIS XXI, reckons that the government can retain a two-thirds majority in the assembly with only 52% of the vote. He says that even if the votes were evenly split, the government would still win 97 seats to the opposition’s 68. In contrast, the opposition needs up to 53% of the popular vote just to win a simple majority of seats, according to Francisco Toro, an opposition blogger. The changes to the electoral system have also had the effect of penalising third parties. A group of moderate former chavistas is unlikely to win many seats outside the home state of its most popular leader, Henri Falcón.

Mr Chávez enjoys other advantages. The constitution prohibits government officials, including the president, from using their position to favour a political tendency. But the electoral authority, whose board comprises four chavistas and a lone oppositionist, says they can do it anyway. Government-run media, including six television channels, give blanket coverage to the PSUV’s campaign and token, hostile interviews to opposition candidates. Only two free-to-air channels have balanced coverage. Short of money and up against the might of the state, the opposition nonetheless hopes that enough chavista voters will stay at home to give it a majority of the popular vote.

Even if the government wins, the election is likely to show that Mr Chávez has lost the commanding majority of the electorate that supported him at the presidential election in 2006. And the opposition, a variegated coalition of 18 parties, has managed to forge a single list of candidates in months of bruising negotiations. The opposition hopes at least to deprive Mr Chávez of a two-thirds majority in the legislature. That would mean the government would have to negotiate over the appointment of supreme-court justices and three new members of the electoral authority, who are due to be chosen almost as soon as the new parliament is sworn in.

In theory, at least. After the opposition won several big, urbanised states and the mayoralty of Caracas in a regional vote in 2008, Mr Chávez stripped state governors and the metropolitan mayor of many powers, along with much of their budget. Mr Chávez is given to “stretching the chewing-gum of democracy” as Laureano Márquez, a comedian and political analyst, puts it, adding that an opposition win on Sunday would see him stretch it yet again. “Under no circumstances can he contemplate losing power,” says Mr Márquez. Officials are drawing up plans for a “communal assembly”, ultimately controlled from the presidential palace, which would encroach on the legislature’s functions.

At the second attempt, in 2009 Mr Chávez won a referendum to change the constitution to abolish term limits. He has already announced that he will stand for another six-year term in the presidential election in two years’ time. He says his re-election campaign will begin immediately after the parliamentary vote. Despite his waning popularity, he is a phenomenal campaigner. Throughout his decade in power he has urged Venezuelans to focus on the Utopia he says lies ahead. And even—or perhaps especially—amid the country’s impoverishment today, Utopia remains a powerful draw.

 

[JohnOfSheffield]

So if Sandorski wouldn't put it past you to commit war crimes - then he should call for you to be executed now, as you have Chevez. Good idea.



I'd like to hear more on this.

Got links? Small chance given the rest of your claims, but just in case there's some fire.

This might surprise you but being in a war zone i have nowhere to store links, i can't bookmark it on a computer because chances are i'll never use that same computer ever again.

But you can google, i can't, it's not hard and there are probably hundreds of articles on the matter, i actually thought it was well known by now but obviously not.

You are a real fucktard, you know that? Don't call you a liberal, EVER, you're not, you are an apologist for crooks and dictators and nothing else, you are a sick fuck, i knew that from the beginning when you were cheering for the Taliban.

This is my last reply, you are on ignore from now on, second one on my list and the mirror image of him, CadsortaGuy and you are just the same.

 

[Craig234]

The Economist has a little bit on how Chavez has continued to stack the deck in his own favour.

Venezuela's legislative election: Chávez grapples with a 50/50 nation

Interesting article, but too bad it's lacking details on the changes causing Chavez to have an advantage.

It sounds a bit like gerrymandering - something we have plenty of here.

Remember the Rove-organized unprecedented re-districting in Texas between censuses, where you had the Democrats fleeing the state to try to deny them a quorum to steal?

From the summary, it does sound unfair and wrong for a democracy.

 

[SamurAchzar]

With all the due sadness towards the Venezuelans who put this idiot into office, at least it now serves as a textbook example of what happens when you socialize a country. Their suffering isn't in vain :\

 

[Howard]

nm

 

[Jhhnn]

Looks like the Venezuelan parliament is proportioned a lot like the US Senate. Maybe it's their version of States' Rights...

Nah. Couldn't be.

 

[SP33Demon]

Uhhh no, he didn't. They were voted on. He said if they didn't pass, he'd leave. Voters approved the measure.



No, he didn't. You don't seem to understand, his violent enemies that make the US look like patty cake politics, the rich - you do understand the far more serious divide between the wealthy and the rest of society in Latin American countries like when Chevez took power that's far worse than the US or UK? - owned all the media except one government station, and they used it worse than Pravda for constant attacking barrages against any public support for him and he put up with that to begin with.

Then a TV station owner participated in a murderous coup, where people were killed to remove him from office. That's a bit much to say 'no problem'.

After that he has evened the odds a bit - I haven't followed it lately, but the last I heard there was a strong presence of opposition media.

If that's changed, I'd be interested in the details and would condemn if he did what you allege, but you understand that I won't consider you an accurate source.

Saddam had crooked elections, IIRC he'd get like 99% of the vote. Chavez appears to have some of the more honest elections in the region - they've had independent observers certify them as fair. I don't know if there have been some more minor irregularities, but we have our own problems before we throw too many stones. There is nothing to compare Venezuelan elections to Saddam but dishonesty.

Wow you must have your head up your arse, to put it politely. You have no clue about the rigged elections in Venezuela. Yes, Chavez was elected fair and square because he tricked them with his "power to the people" bullsht the first time. However, he has completely transformed the government into an Authoritarian entity with the goal of emulating Castro's Cuba.

Believing Chavez's stupid explanation about the TV Station owner is as ridiculous as when he shut down the stock market and believing he suspended all brokerages for "conspiracy". Yes, everyone is converting to the dollar b/c they want to get the hell out of there if you think that's a conspiracy.

Like I said, do a search on "Chaves seizes" for all of the things he has stolen, shut down, or done in the name of censorship:

3 banks seized for "illegally using deposits":
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125997702608777833.html

Brokerages shut down to prevent capital flight of collapsing economy:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-03/chavez-to-close-brokerage-firms-seized-in-crackdown.html

11 U.S. Oil rigs seized after his government failed to pay them for goods:
http://www.chandlerswatch.com/2010/06/25/hugo-chavez-seizes-11-u-s-oil-rigs-and-nationalizes-them/

US Rice mill seized for allegations it was producing too little rice
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0426337720090305

French owned retailer seized for "hoarding goods"
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9618116

3 local ports seized by Chavez's military in order to "reunify the motherland"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7957475.stm

2 US owned gas facilities militarily seized in the name of a "revolutionary offensive"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8041366.stm

28,000+ acres of people's farmland and says on TV: "Land isn’t private; it’s the property of the nation. Land is, by nature, the property of everyone. A river is, by nature, property of everyone, like the air.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8I3T5GXEZdU&refer=worldwide

32 sugar plantations seized, cement manufacturers, and Sidor (steel factory):
http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2008/04/11/chvez_seizes_sugar_plantations/

2nd Hilton Hotel "acquisition by force" where Chavez says: "To hold the conference we had to ask for permission... and the owners tried to impose conditions on the revolutionary government. No way," AFP quotes Chavez as saying. "So I said, 'Let's expropriate it.' And now it's been expropriated."
http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/legacy/2009/10/68500999/1?csp=Travel

3,700 acres owned by Irish tycoon seized because land was used to grow eucalyptus and not food:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Chavez-seizes-land-owned-by-Irish-tycoon.html

Opposition TV owner arrested on comments deemed "offensive" by Chavez:
http://www.boston.com/business/arti...havez_tv_channel_owner_arrested_in_venezuela/

and then seizes his ranch for fun:
http://www.aolnews.com/story/owner-of-anti-chavez-tv-seeks-help-from/1112997?cid=13

32,000 acres seized from British ranch where Chavez says "war to the death against large landed estates, regardless of who the alleged landholders are":
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4375817.stm

Chavez seizes last privately owned oil field and says "Down with the U.S. empire!".
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-05-01-4153144324_x.htm

Chavez calls for regulation of the internet:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62D05I20100314

Closes 34 radio stations and says: "We've recovered a bunch of stations that were outside the law, that now belong to the people and not the bourgeoisie."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...avez-closes-34-Venezuelan-radio-stations.html

Shuts down two golf courses and says golf = "laziness" and is a "bourgeois sport":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor.../Hugo-Chavez-moves-to-close-golf-courses.html

Chavez shuts down RCTV: "Shortly past midnight, cable providers took the 57-year-old station off the air after the station did not broadcast a Chávez speech at a pro-government rally held on Saturday. The Obama administration and press freedom groups saw the government's decision as a way to muzzle one of the few television outlets in Venezuela that criticizes the 11-year-old government."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/24/AR2010012402887.html?hpid=artslot

"Forceful acquisition" of Mexican food producer for refusing to produce corn flour:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...zure-of-gruma-s-venezuelan-unit-update3-.html

Seizes iron, aluminum, and transportation companies in mining region:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FNMNMO2.htm

 

[Sinsear]

Wow you must have your head up your arse, to put it politely. You have no clue about the rigged elections in Venezuela. Yes, Chavez was elected fair and square because he tricked them with his "power to the people" bullsht the first time. However, he has completely transformed the government into an Authoritarian entity with the goal of emulating Castro's Cuba.

Believing Chavez's stupid explanation about the TV Station owner is as ridiculous as when he shut down the stock market and believing he suspended all brokerages for "conspiracy". Yes, everyone is converting to the dollar b/c they want to get the hell out of there if you think that's a conspiracy.

Like I said, do a search on "Chaves seizes" for all of the things he has stolen, shut down, or done in the name of censorship:

3 banks seized for "illegally using deposits":
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125997702608777833.html

Brokerages shut down to prevent capital flight of collapsing economy:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-09-03/chavez-to-close-brokerage-firms-seized-in-crackdown.html

11 U.S. Oil rigs seized after his government failed to pay them for goods:
http://www.chandlerswatch.com/2010/06/25/hugo-chavez-seizes-11-u-s-oil-rigs-and-nationalizes-them/

US Rice mill seized for allegations it was producing too little rice
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN0426337720090305

French owned retailer seized for "hoarding goods"
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9618116

3 local ports seized by Chavez's military in order to "reunify the motherland"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7957475.stm

2 US owned gas facilities militarily seized in the name of a "revolutionary offensive"
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/8041366.stm

28,000+ acres of people's farmland and says on TV: "Land isn’t private; it’s the property of the nation. Land is, by nature, the property of everyone. A river is, by nature, property of everyone, like the air.”
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a8I3T5GXEZdU&refer=worldwide

32 sugar plantations seized, cement manufacturers, and Sidor (steel factory):
http://www.boston.com/news/world/latinamerica/articles/2008/04/11/chvez_seizes_sugar_plantations/

2nd Hilton Hotel "acquisition by force" where Chavez says: "To hold the conference we had to ask for permission... and the owners tried to impose conditions on the revolutionary government. No way," AFP quotes Chavez as saying. "So I said, 'Let's expropriate it.' And now it's been expropriated."
http://travel.usatoday.com/hotels/legacy/2009/10/68500999/1?csp=Travel

3,700 acres owned by Irish tycoon seized because land was used to grow eucalyptus and not food:
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...Chavez-seizes-land-owned-by-Irish-tycoon.html

Opposition TV owner arrested on comments deemed "offensive" by Chavez:
http://www.boston.com/business/arti...havez_tv_channel_owner_arrested_in_venezuela/

and then seizes his ranch for fun:
http://www.aolnews.com/story/owner-of-anti-chavez-tv-seeks-help-from/1112997?cid=13

32,000 acres seized from British ranch where Chavez says "war to the death against large landed estates, regardless of who the alleged landholders are":
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/4375817.stm

Chavez seizes last privately owned oil field and says "Down with the U.S. empire!".
http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2007-05-01-4153144324_x.htm

Chavez calls for regulation of the internet:
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62D05I20100314

Closes 34 radio stations and says: "We've recovered a bunch of stations that were outside the law, that now belong to the people and not the bourgeoisie."
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor...avez-closes-34-Venezuelan-radio-stations.html

Shuts down two golf courses and says golf = "laziness" and is a "bourgeois sport":
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/wor.../Hugo-Chavez-moves-to-close-golf-courses.html

Chavez shuts down RCTV: "Shortly past midnight, cable providers took the 57-year-old station off the air after the station did not broadcast a Chávez speech at a pro-government rally held on Saturday. The Obama administration and press freedom groups saw the government's decision as a way to muzzle one of the few television outlets in Venezuela that criticizes the 11-year-old government."
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/24/AR2010012402887.html?hpid=artslot

"Forceful acquisition" of Mexican food producer for refusing to produce corn flour:
http://www.businessweek.com/news/20...zure-of-gruma-s-venezuelan-unit-update3-.html

Seizes iron, aluminum, and transportation companies in mining region:
http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FNMNMO2.htm

You don't seem to understand. Craig agrees with the way Chavez runs his government. He wishes some of these measures would be imposed here in the US.