The Dictator of Caracas ( won every congressional seat )

Wall Street Journal ^ | December 6, 2005

[Ooh-Ah]

After last week's editorial about his oil-for-influence campaign aimed at the U.S. Congress, several readers objected to our description of Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez as a "dictator." Let's hope these forgiving souls paid attention to Sunday's congressional elections in that country.

Mr. Chávez's party or parties sympathetic to his Bolivarian revolution won all 167 seats in the country's unicameral congress. Every single seat. But that Saddam-like sweep was only possible because most Venezuelans decided not to participate. Even the government admits to an abstention rate of greater than 75%. While it's true the opposition boycotted, it did so knowing how the government had cheated to win the August 2004 recall referendum.

The Chávez transgressions in 2004 included the use of voting machines in which software was not reviewed, refusal to allow auditing of the voting registry, not guaranteeing the secrecy of the vote, and using the list of Venezuelans who had signed the recall petition to threaten the livelihoods of government employees and contractors. Overseeing it all was a government-appointed electoral council, which did what it could to outlaw competition. The European Union was so appalled that it refused even to monitor the 2004 vote.

[EagleUSA]

Welcome to Communism. Hillary has an idol...

[wideawake]

I long for the day when some brave new Clemenza will be able to say:

"Hugo? Won't see him no more."

[Mr. Keys]

Does Jimmah Carter approve of this?

[T. Jefferson]

Caracas is becoming more dangerous for american tourists than Columbia now. No one can venture 5 minutes outside Caracas, people stroll the streets with guns.

[GermanBusiness]

[Does Jimmah Carter approve of this?]

The coward will refuse to speak at all on the subject.

If it weren't for the lives that guy saved signing the asbestos bill, I'd say the guy should be brought up on treason charges.

[EagleUSA]

Caracas is becoming more dangerous for american tourists than Columbia now. No one can venture 5 minutes outside Caracas, people stroll the streets with guns.
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Nice place for a vaction with the kids!!! Such a beautiful [police] state... :-)

[Eva]

A friend of ours was head of one of the US refineries in Venezuela until just a few months ago. He had to have armed guards for his wife twenty four hours a day due to threats against her life.

[Mr. Keys]

Hold that thought until he's done monitoring the Palestinian "election".

[B Knotts]

Venezuala is not Cuba.

I have a feeling this guy's days are numbered.

[T. Jefferson]

Cuba is far safer than Caracas right now.

[Waxhawbud]

Isn't that how Hitler got his start. Nazi's got a majority of the seats, burned the place down and then he said we didn't need the place anyway since I control all of the seats. With so many Neville Chamberlains running around why not try it again.

[Gay State Conservative]

Reminds me of the good old days when elections in the USSR,East Germany and various other "Peoples' Republics" would feature 99.4% turnout and the official government slate of candidates would get 99.6% of the vote.

[Gay State Conservative]

Caracas is becoming more dangerous for American tourists than Columbia now. No one can venture 5 minutes outside Caracas, people stroll the streets with guns.

Was Venezuela ever a hot spot for American tourists?

[Morgan in Denver]

I don't have a subscription to the WSJ online. I would like to know if Carter's group of election watchers were there. If you know, were they? Thanks.

[hh007]

Of course Carter was there. He gave the election a clean bill of health.

[rod1]

Did Jimmah screen this election? I know he has touted Chavez's previous elections as models of fairness.

[Morgan in Denver]

Thanks. If you have any quotes I'd appreciate getting them if it isn't too much trouble.

[RedWhiteBlue]

A friend of ours was head of one of the US refineries in Venezuela until just a few months ago

The US refineries built in Venezuela were nationalized years ago and became the state oil company, PDVSA. Maybe he was responible for a petrochemical plant of a US company, or for exploration / production of a US company (finding oil or natural gas and getting it out of the ground)? They still allow US participation in those areas, only because Venezeuala doesn't have the needed ongoing technology advances, but there is no doubt in my mind that he would nationalize those sectors, too, if he thought he could pull it off.

[Eva]

No, some US companies have their own refineries and their own ships that move the oil. You are right that the oil industry was nationalized years ago, but then the American companies were invited back in because the Venezuelans were not able to handle it themselves. The US companies manage the Venezuelan employees. Our friend was in charge of the whole operation.