"In a solemn public ceremony, he improvises with a tirade that discredits one of the [three] branches of government, and precisely the branch not involved with party politics, which has the constitutional role of addressing disputes between individuals and institutions. With accusations of biased verdicts, the existence of 'black boxes' and venality in sectors of the Judiciary, the president endangers the wise and time-honored principle of independence of the three branches, a basic principle of democracy. A democracy without respect for the limits of each branch is not a democracy but an authoritarian regime typical of dictatorships" ("Crise de Poderes," Correio do Povo, 4/26/2003).***
In small steps, political parties and many community organizations opposed to Mr. Chávez have started to gear up political activities in poor districts in preparation for the referendum on Mr. Chávez's rule. Though a date has not been set, Mr. Chávez and his adversaries last month agreed to allow Venezuelans to vote on whether they want him to continue in power.
At First Justice, which started as a civic organization and became a political party two years ago, those who work in Catia and other poor districts are under no illusions. But Armando Briquet, who oversees operations in much of the metropolitan area, said the strategy is simple: to focus on the growing economic and crime problems and not overtly criticize the president. "We are telling people, `We understand your problems, that we can help you look for solutions,' " Mr. Briquet said in an interview in his office. "That there is a different way of doing things, different from the old way and the current way."***