(Thanks @inti for sending the cartoon and Rodrigo @sin_mordaza for making it)
Slowly Hugo Chavez is building up his Dictatorship. He has been planning ahead all the time.
Lost the Constitutional referendum? He quickly had himself an Enabling Law that allowed him to legislate in 2008 everything but his own reelection by decree, thus voiding what the “people” had voted for. He dealt with his reelection by holding an illegal referendum that would allow him to run in 2012 and forever if necessary, he had the Supreme Court ready to approve it in an another subtle but illegal decision that denies the very essence of our Constitution and democracy.
Then, in the face of the 2007 referendum defeat, he rearranged electoral districts so that he could win the National Assembly even in defeat. It almost worked, except that he did not cheat enough and lost more popularity than he imagined he would in the intervening two years. In the end, he did not manage to obtain the super majority that would have allowed him to have the Assembly approve him any Bill he wanted.
Thus, he made a three step maneuver, one for the present, one for the immediate future and one for a year and a half from now.
For the present, he had the lame duck National Assembly approve a succession of Bills that change the social landscape in a dramatic fashion, from the Banking Bill, to the Science and Technology Bill, to the Telecom Bill, to the Media Bill, to the University Bill, Chavez legislated precisely what the majority that voted against him did not want. It was undemocratic, unfair and much of it illegal.
Then, to take care of the immediate future, he had the same National Assembly approve him an Enabling Bill that it is not only undemocratic, the old Assembly was legislating beyond its own mandate and violating the mandate of the new one, but gave Chavez essentially Dictatorial powers, just when the people voted clearly to limit or stop his powers. It was, and is, a legislative coup d’etat that makes Hugo Chavez Dictator for eighteen months and castrates not only the newly voted Deputies, but the voters that asked for Chavez to be stopped. And these voters were a majority in the September Parliamentary election.
And as if this was not enough, that same Assembly approved a Bill for Political Parties that prohibits anyone elected under the slate of a political party, to vote differently than that party in the National Assembly. Talk about totalitarian control. Deputies have no conscience, no independence, no criteria, they have to vote in the manner in which the party and its hierarchy says.
So much for Chavez’ “participatory Democracy! What a farce!
The question is at this time, why was this approved? What card is Chavez playing long term, that he wants to make sure that not a single one of the Deputies elected under his party and that of the PCV (Communist Party) can turn against him?
Since he does not have a super majority (two thirds of the Assembly), that can’t be it. He does not need them to convoke another Constituent Assembly, he can do that on his own. He does need them to approve another Enabling Bill, but what use is that instrument six months before a Presidential election?
It does insure him a majority in the Assembly, but once again, what use is that? If Chavez is facing a sure defeat in 2012, not having a amjority will almost be an irrelevant question. But the eighteen month timing has to have a key ingredient in it. Simply control rebellion within his own ranks?
In the face of the 2012 elections, Chavez has to deal two possible scenarios: That he could win or that he will go down in defeat. If he can win, he will go forward with the election. He will risk it all to obtain even a marginal victory that would give him the appearance of democracy, the same way he has claimed to be a democrat in the last few years. And if all fails, he will just not hand over power and end the travesty once and for all. Dictator for life!
Fidel’s heir indeed!
In the same manner, if the election looks tough, he will call for a Constituent Assembly that will stop the upcoming Presidential election and allow him to rule until the whole process is completed. He will use the redistricting to have a majority in the Constituent Assembly. He will legislate at will and play it by ear to make sure he can be the first President under the new, more controlling and more limiting Constitution.
Either way, Hugo Chavez would have built himself his Dictatorship one step at a time under the watchful eye of all of those fake organizations that have looked the other way as he trampled over the Venezuelan Constitution and its people over the last few years.
All done one step at a time and under the banner of democracy.
The Devil's Excrement 
December 28, 2010 at 8:59 pm
[…] for Dummies Our South American correspondent BG suggested that we republish the following post by Miguel, the founder of the Venezuelan Resistance blog site The Devil’s […]
December 26, 2010 at 6:34 pm
Off topic or on topic? I’m not sure. But check out what was going on in Belarus last week:
http://www.news24.com/World/News/Bloody-battle-in-Belarus-capital-20101220
December 26, 2010 at 3:31 pm
[…] Hugo Chavez is building up his Dictatorship one step at a time. […]
December 25, 2010 at 3:20 pm
Wasn’t that Constituent Assembly thing what Mel was trying in the last six months of his reign in Honduras?
December 25, 2010 at 2:04 pm
Having a new Constitution approved is likely to be easier than a Presidential race if his popularity drops. In any case, he delays the election, remains in power and he can always kick the table in the end.
December 25, 2010 at 1:59 pm
Rene
Great post Miguel, my only challenge is that if Chavez calls for a Consitutional Assembly, wouldn´t this new constitution need to be approved by a majority of Venezuelans?
Since when has what the law says been important to Thugo, even when he has written it? If Thugo wants it, it occurs, regardless of the legality or illegality of the matter.
December 25, 2010 at 11:22 am
Great post Miguel, my only challenge is that if Chavez calls for a Consitutional Assembly, wouldn´t this new constitution need to be approved by a majority of Venezuelans?
December 25, 2010 at 1:33 am
Merry Christmas and when is it you all are gonna start shooting these red shirted assholes? For Christ’s sake get on with it already.
Remember the Alamo !
December 24, 2010 at 7:30 pm
Merry Christmas Miguel.
Weird thing. I saw this post a few hours ago & then it disappeared until just now. I’m using Chrome. Tried reloading but it was gone.
Maybe the snow is having a magical effect 🙂
December 24, 2010 at 6:26 pm
Chávez is able to do all that because he still is closer to 50% approval.
once he gets to 60-70% opposition, there is no way for him to go ahead with his project.
The answer to the situation is to create an alternative that would convince 10 to 20% more people that enough is enough. Until then, Chávez will be doing whatever he wants.
December 24, 2010 at 5:20 pm
I’ve thought this day was coming for over a year. I honestly am not suprised by any of this, I was simply curious how he was going to go about it. I honestly don’t think a civil war will take place in Venezuela, I don’t think most Venezuelans care to fight for their rights, scratching a living is enough for them as long as they can have their Polar at the end of the day, and their culo.
I think Chavez is good for Venezuela in the long run. I think he will take more and more from the ordinary people until they get mad, and start demanding justic. Maybe then things like right and wrong will start to mean something to them, rather then what they can get away with.
This is not to say all Venezuelans are like this, just the majority and the rich are no different then the poor, who have used and abused and been the shining image for Chavismo to which it once aspired to, and now has out done.
Maybe it is my time in the military, but I’ve always thought people should be willing to fight for their liberties or they simply don’t deserve them. Nothing is free in this world, and freedom is no different.
Feliz Navidad all. And I truely hope things turn around in 2012.
December 24, 2010 at 4:22 pm
Slowly Hugo Chavez is building up his Dictatorship. He has been planning ahead all the time.
So that’s what the brain trust was doing, they don’t seem to be planning anything else. Perhaps once he is secure he will focus (like a laser :)) on the economy, housing and and education.
Call me at USA-BR-549 for how to get in on the ground floor of the coming Vz boom.
December 24, 2010 at 3:35 pm
people in venezuela is actually worse than in the rest of the world.They are not patriotic,they are lazy,they like to get away with bad stuff,they prefer the easy,slightly legal and inmoral way to do things(Like a friend of mine selling wholesome candy about to expire) and such. There is no need for that sense of accomplisment here. So yes,things will only get worse. Unless some rich folks gather,do another coup,remove chavez and well,the rest is unknown to me but i doubt it can get any worse.
September 7, 2011 at 6:26 pm
Believe me, in communism it’s always possible to get worse…
December 24, 2010 at 2:47 pm
Even Obama is learning that if the goose is going to keep funding the revolution, you can’t keep poking it with sharp sticks and hacking at it with knives.
If this PURE MEGALOMANIAC is allowed to continue determining VZ’s future, Cuban style standards of living await. The oil wealth is already being limited by his expropriation and incompetent management of state-seized elements. A free market revival is what is needed, with fees, taxes etc. as low as possible to allow as many people as possible to compete in an open marketplace. Unless VZ is unlike everywhere else in the world, people will prosper if they have genuine opportunity. That includes sound money, people need to know that what they save will retain its value.
Presently, all of the foundations of a sound and prosperous society are twisted and held hostage by Chavez. When it gets bad enough, he will be forcibly removed, but who wants it to get that bad?
Others are praying for you.
Greg
December 24, 2010 at 2:40 pm
Well, it’s getting plane for all to see that the emperor has no clothes, but neither does the public for that matter.