Venezuela's Fall From Grace

The Republic of Venezuela, at one time one of the most prosperous countries in Latin America, has taken a big blow, and continues to sink, with no end in sight. Venezuela's prosperity and ills were made during the early 1940's when oil was discovered close to lake Maracaibo. Venezuela, being an underdeveloped country at that time, was ruled by a dictator, Gen. Juan Jimenez. Gen. Jimenez, a crude, but prudent leader, was able to quickly build up Venezuela's riches and start social programs. By 1945, Venezuela had paid all of its external debt with oil money. The rest is a success story. A few more coups ensured, but by and large, the Venezuelan economy kept growing, and it was becoming more stable. It was thus that in 1958 the military called elections, where Mr. Betancourt became president. Thus, the COPEI (Christian Democrats) ruled on and of with the social democrats for the next 40 years. This created a stable two party democracy, much like in the United States and Europe. Thus Venezuelans only had to indulge themselves enjoying their oil money. Many Venezuelans (who were mostly middle class) bought imported cars from the United States and even went on daily shopping trips to Miami. The state created a benevolent welfare state, massive highways were built, new industries created, a modern banking sector, etc. The problem came when statist politicians tried to nationalize the economy (they could afford to), and thus led to much unecessary money spending, political favors, and mismanagement. This led to graft, corruption and nepotism. Thus Venezuelans started not to care when their "democratic" leaders stole public funds, as long as they did not get too greedy. Thus the stage was set for massive corruption from the nationalized Petroleum Company of Venezuela. Soon, the welfare state didnt have enough money, public officials were inefficient, the statist system was unflexible, and the prosperity started to fade. This case from "rags" to "riches", was the typical case when the state spent all the money and thus the country was broke.

COPEI's dirty politicians were becoming very unpopular. Thus the country was in dire state. Colonel Hugo Chavez tried to stage a coup d'etat in 1992, but failed miserably against the corrupt ruling class. He was imprisioned but remained popular with the ignorant "masses". He sought to return Venezuela to the days of high public spending and nationalization. Nostalgic for the good old days, Venezuelans wanted him to become President. It was thus that Chavez won a landslide victory in 1999 against the ruling parties. He ran his campaign from jail, and the "democrats" made the mistake of releasing him from jail. Chavez has proven even worse than the banana republic politicians he replaced. He changed the constitution which gave him vast powers (let us say "dictatorial" powers), and made congress unicameral, much like in Cuba, and he dismissed all the former congressmen. He filled it up with his cronies, mostly left wing including the Socialists, Communists, and other strange center-left parties and movements. Chavez wanted to create a one-party state and thus created the V Republic movement to unite his supporters. He went on to nationalize what little was left in private hands, he nationalized land, confiscating them from hard working people and giving them to ignorant landless peasants who could not work the land. Hugo Chavez is a dangerous populist and pro-Communist. He soon became one of the closest friends of Fidel Castro, has gone to Cuba on numerous times, and is even trading "sugar for oil" with Cuba, which clearly does not benefit Venezuela. Hugo Chavez has supported the Colombian left wing guerrillas and has supported "revolution" as a soclution. Chavez was also the first head of state to make an oficial visit to Iraq, supporting Saddam Hussein and Ba'athist socialist regime. Chavez did not stop there. On the home front, he nationalized banks, industries and land. He approved of ilegal land seizures, creating divisions and clashes in Venezuelan society, much like our marxist "president" Allende in Chile from 1970-1973.

Thus, Venezuelan society, the press, the sindicates (the unions are more responsible in Venezuela than in Chile), the business groups, and average Venezuelans, grew tired of his mediocre repressive regime that wasn't helping the nation. Chavez was overthrown on April 12th, 2002, by a civilian and Military movement. Pedro Carmona, head of Fedecamera (Business group), became the provisional President of Venezuela. Unfortunately, Chavez, imprisioned in a military base off Caracas, the capital, urged his supporters to go to the streets. This created a death toll of more than 12 people, and created disturbances throughout the nation. This led Mr. Carmona to feel bad for the chain of events, and in a very bad move for the future of his country and to the dismay of Venezuelan nationalists, he resigned as Provisional President, and thus the right-wing movement was finished. Thus, since the unicameral National Assembly created by Chavez and packed by Chavez supporters, were still a functioning government body, they took away all moral legitimacy to the provisional government. It was thus that Mr. Carmona resigned so as not to have a dual government body. Thus, the National Assembly packed with traitors, assigned Mr. Diosdado Cabello as provisional president. Mr. Cabello is of course a hard core supporter of Chavez, and told the people that he would resign as soon as Chavez came back. Thus Barely 22 hrs after Mr. Carmona was provisional president, Chavez regained the presidency. The Chilean ambassador in Caracas quickly supported the nationalist movement against Chavez on April 12th, but came under attack when he realized he was clebrating too son, after Chavez came back. The left-wing Chilean government is part of the complicity in supporting Chavez' travesty of democracy, and were quick to placate Chavez that the government of Chile did not support the coup against him. Chileans either dont care or the ones that do care did not support Chavez. It is only the left wingers, the marxists and our inept government that supprts Chavez' dictatorship. The Chilean ambassador (unbelivably a left winger) was removed and another government lackey will take his place. It is a terrible tragedy for the Venezuelan nation, for Venezuelan patriots and other nationalists that wanted the internationalist, left-leaning (pro-Communist) Chavez out. After a flicker of hope, Venezuela will continue in its path of self destruction. Chavez is already judging the "conspirators" against him, and will probably get rid of them. Democracy wont be returning any time soon. The new national government of Mr. Carmona might have saved Venezuela but any chance of this happening again will be rare. Now Chavez will consolidate his power, purge the military and government, and his supporters will act with impunity in beating up rivals. It is a sad week for Venezuelan nationalism indeed. Chavez must be kicked out and the sooner, the better.

Article by,
Cristian Subiabre April 17th, 2002.