I spent most of the weekend (including last Friday) behind closed doors, in the solitude of reading about html code and CGI scripts, things that may become useful in the near future and come handy on numerous occasions, but do not provide but a minor comfort for spending Saturday at your desk. In the midst of all that, I only had some time to have dinner with friends on Saturday and watch a film on TV yesterday night. But most of all I had the chance to follow the news after a long time, since the newspapers lying on our big table next to my PC were the only distraction I allowed myself to indulge in.
So today a few words about Chavez's lost referendum and how in principal it can prove to be a victory instead of a defeat.
The narrow margin by which the opposition won yesterday's referendum for the constitutional reform is first of all a proof that democracy is -to the contrary to what a lot of people here in Europe are trying to convince us- still alive in Venezuela. No allegations for stolen votes, forced abstention or anything like that.
[At this point I cannot avoid being provocative by asking if such a narrow defeat (50.7% against 49.2%) would have been conceded by the opposition had the result been different. Just think about that!]
But let us move on. Chavez did concede and although he meant to stand firm, he could not hide his disappointment for the more than three million votes he lost between last summer's presidential election and yesterday's referendum. It is these three million who chose not to vote that gave victory to the opposition. But let's talk a bit about what this victory signifies. To me it's a good thing. First of all for the country itself. No country is in need of a permanent ruler be it a president or a King with absolute authority. Venezuela should not commit the mistakes of other countries and above all, should not give any right to the ruthless enemies to talk about a republic tumbling towards dictatorship. Secondly, it's good for Chavez too. The "Presidente" has been flirting with Castro's mistakes far too much after being re-elected. A lost referendum, the first electoral battle he loses in nine years can be seen as a starting point for constructive self-criticism. His work up to now has been incredible and he can be remembered for this alone, if only he chooses to leave out in style by trusting his own people instead of trying to indoctrinate them at all costs. His true followers send him a message by not voting and he ought to consider it as any true leader would.
The NO in this referendum means that Venezuelans do not agree with the extension of the presidential term from six to seven years, that they do not like the same guy being able to run for president more than twice and that they would hate him having unlimited power over the country's media. On the other hand, it also means that radical reforms for the benefit of the poor, such as reducing the hours of daily work and incorporating part-timers and informal "wage-slaves" to the social welfare system will have to be postponed. But the time will come for this, sooner or later. Foreign correspondents should be cautious before they qualify yesterday's result as a rejection to Chavez's socialist program, especially when this rejection is not as firm as they would like and most of all because it is not a rejection of the program as it is a message to the president and his ambitions having led him too far this time.
My dear friend Hugo must have understood his limits and -more importantly- that it is the reforms that matter and not the person who brings them forth. The opposition, on the other hand, should now reconcile with the idea that change CAN be achieved the legal way, meaning through the electoral process and not with prepaid media propaganda or attempting to overthrow the president with money and guns arriving in the diplomatic bag. Most of all the people of Venezuela can be assured that their voice still matters and the people of the rest of the world that when it comes to matters of Venezuela it is better that the Venezuelans themselves decide, without the President of the USA or King of Spain having a say on their decisions.
Given that all sides rise to the above tasks, yesterday's outcome will prove to be for the benefit of all.
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