Chavez Wins Re-Election in Venezuela; Vows to Eliminate Term Limits
December 4, 2006

Incumbent President Hugo Chavez has been declared the winner of the Venezuelan Presidential elections, defeating challenger Manuel Rosales with 61.8% of the popular vote against the 38.4% of his challenger according to a Washington Post report.  Rosales has conceded the election to Chavez without claims of widespread fraud, and observers from the European Union, Carter Center and the Organization of American States “reported only isolated incidents…”  Chavez’s election marks his third victory since 1998.

Chavez received his largest support from Venezuela’s working class.  The Washington Post reports that a majority of Venezuelans “overwhelming approve of his social policies,” which accounts for much of his popularity.

The re-election of Chavez also has ramifications for domestic politics in Venezuela.  According to Reuters Chavez is planning widespread constitutional reform that will “scrap presidential term limits and create a single-party that he expects to lead in power for decades.”  The Sidney Morning Herald also says that Chavez is seeking reform to “strengthen the legal standing of presidential decrees.”  Legislative approval would not be a problem as Chavez loyalists “occupy all 165 seats in Congress.”

A further centralization of power into the hands of Chavez was a fear of opponents heading into the elections according to the Sidney Morning Herald.  In the past decade Chavez has “weakened democratic institutions by taking control of the judiciary, Congress and military, leaving little room for dissent.”  Freedom House’s annual report Freedom in the World lowered Venezuela’s political rights rating from a 3 to a 4 “due to an increase in intimidation of opposition groups.”  Venezuela is listed as “partly free” and has a civil liberties rating of 4. 

Sources:

Freedom House: Freedom in the World 2006, Venezuela
Reuters: Chavez heads to reelection: exit pollster
Sidney Morning Herald: Chavez victory signals further move to the left
Washington Post: Venezuela's Chavez Wins Decisive Victory