12-08-06, 8:56 am

With the resounding reelection of Venezuelan President Hugo Rafael Chávez Frías on December 3, with more than seven million votes, a series of important definitions and advances by the continent’s leftist forces has come to a close, announcing not just the inevitable end of the neoliberal model and dependence on the empire, but also the growing awareness that capitalism is not a safe port for our people. 

For the fourth time in eight years of leadership, the leader of the Bolivarian Revolution submitted himself to the verdict of the voting booths. For the fourth time, he received the growing vote of support of the immense majority of Venezuelan people who in legitimizing him once again, have demonstrated their democratic vocation to the world and their unwavering decision that the Bolivarian Revolution is here to stay.

At 10:20 p.m. on Dec. 3, the National Electoral Council (NEC) issued – to the unrestrained euphoria of the people – the first official figures, confirming Chávez’ victory with more than 61% of the vote, and the predicted defeat of those who would return to the past.

Those who voted this time revealed a deep-rooted level of consciousness. It was not just a matter of defending the social accomplishments of the Bolivarian process, unimaginable in the times of the bourgeois republic. Neither was it one of preventing – out of fear – the return of the white terror, which viciously showed its claws in April 2002 when its representatives carried out an assault on power and kidnapped the president.

Those who voted did so for socialism, that native, indigenous, Christian and Bolivarian socialism that Chávez talked of throughout his campaign, even at the risk of increasing the empire’s hostility, the oligarchy’s violence and the mainstream media’s discredit and demonization. The die was cast.

The Venezuelan people opted to build an indigenous socialism, going against those who in the late 1980s were celebrating the fall of socialism in Europe and clinking their glasses to the “end of history,” in a macabre toast that referred to the end of the left and of progressive and revolutionary processes in the world. That was the euphoria and confidence that the empire felt during those years, as it imposed its unilateral hegemony.

The Venezuelan people, aware that their revolutionary process is a point of reference for other nations in Latin America and the Caribbean, took as their own the words of the Liberator this December 3, cited by President Chávez on the night of his victory, as a heavy rain seemed to fall as a blessing on his reelection: “What we have done today is just a prelude to what we will do.”

STARTING POINT

On February 2, 1999, at Miraflores Palace, Hugo Chávez received the presidential sash and a heavy legacy, which more than few believed to be unsalvageable.

Unemployment was at about 20% at the time and underemployment at 50%; almost one million children were not attending school, and just one of every five who entered elementary school were finishing. Fifteen percent of Venezuelan children were dying from malnutrition, and 45% of adolescents were being recruited to crime. A study carried out by the National Congress itself showed that in 1996, 50% of the population was impoverished.

The solidarity offered by Cuba and a policy of recovering the most important of Venezuela’s natural resources, oil, would serve to finance the social and development programs that the country needed. For the first time since its nationalization, oil profits were placed at the disposition of the people and not of the elite.

The road was not an easy one. The opposition, representing the interests of the oligarchy and U.S. transnational corporations, tried everything to block change. First, there was the fascist coup, and then, relentlessly, the oil strike (lockout). These were setbacks that instead of creating obstacles to the process radicalized it further.

In eight years, the Bolivarian government laid the foundations for awakening national consciousness and creating the tools to pay the social debt to the people.

Its “missions” – social programs – have been the key to that change.

Barrio Adentro (Into the Neighborhood), with the collaboration of thousands of Cuban doctors, has provided primary health care, including with specialist and advanced diagnostics, to 17 million Venezuelans, many of whom had never received health care. During these years, more than 220 million doctors’ consultations have been made, completely free of charge, and medications have been provided on the same terms. Infant and maternal mortality have dropped, and via Operation Miracle, tens of thousands of Venezuelan patients have had their vision restored.

With the Cuban literacy method, “Yo, sí puedo” (Yes, I Can Do It), Mission Robinson taught 1.5 million citizens how to read and write, and an equal number are now studying for their sixth-grade diplomas. Missions Ribas and Sucre have enabled almost one million students to enroll in middle and high school classes, previously abandoned due to financial reasons. In the first, 613,000 young people are enrolled, and in the second, half a million.

Fifteen million Venezuelans can purchase foodstuffs subsidized by the State, which has built 6,000 markets for that purpose; at the same time, the country has attained food self-sufficiency, producing 90% of the food it consumes.

Missions Vuelvan Caras (Faces Return), Negra Hipólita and Madres de Barrio (Neighborhood Mothers) provide training for the unemployed, combat poverty and help single mothers to become incorporated into the new Venezuela’s productive and social life.

Just in the 2007 budget, 65% is dedicated to social spending, without neglecting support for small businesses, cooperatives, the People’s Bank and the Bank for Women and Communal Councils, which is to receive 1.395 million for its development.

These are figures that point to the construction of a long-term model, which has placed ordinary men and women, marginalized and excluded for more than 50 years of the bourgeois republic, at the center of decision-making and future projects.

These are figures that are accompanied by a strong economic upturn, and that express, moreover, a solid tendency toward expansion of the gross domestic product (GDP), which has remained as high as 10.2% over the last 12 trimesters. For the first time in the country’s history, non-oil economic activity has grown by 10.1% in the manufacturing industry; 19.4% in commerce and 35.1% in construction. This dynamism is reflected in an increase in consumption, investment, more credits for the productive sectors and greater public spending, linked to social programs.

These are figures of truth, inclusion, the definitive uprooting of the demagogy of the traditional politicians, those who have now lost their place at the voting booth.

This scenario of advances is the one that explains, moreover, the growing support from citizens.

STRONGER ON THE INTERNATIONAL SCENE

This latest victory by Chávez and the Bolivarian Revolution comes in the midst of Venezuela’s increasingly stronger role on the international scene, which is expressed in its leadership in the regional integration process, and the progress of its initiatives, like the Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA), which shut down the advance of the FTAA promoted by Washington, an instrument of domination and subjection of our nations, a new form of colonization.

Petrocaribe, the great oil pipeline of the South; agreements with China, Vietnam, Malaysia and Russia; the approach to Africa and the battle against a unipolar world, are an inherent part of this new model of society that Venezuela is taking forward, and that from this December 3 will continue its course toward what President Chávez has described as “socialism of the 21st century.”

This is sufficient reason for this new and resounding victory of the Venezuelan people at the polls and of their top leader to be a universal fiesta for all who believe that a better world is possible and who are fighting to attain it.

RECUADROS

The victory in figures

Hugo Chávez won 7,161,637 votes, for 62.89% of ballots cast. His closest rival, the governor of Zulia, had to be satisfied with 37.18% of the vote.

The Bolivarian leader won with a 25.71 percentage point-lead over Rosales.

The abstention rate was 25.09%, the lowest in 18 years.

He won in every state

President Chávez won in every state of the nation and in the capital district. In Zulia and Nueva Esparta, the only states where the opposition governs, he defeated Rosales with 50.57% and 58.49%, respectively.

In 8 states, he won more than 70% of the vote:

Portuguesa, 75.27%        Amazonas, 73.37%          Aragua, 71.12%              Cojedes, 71.73%            Delta Amacuro, 74.37% Sucre, 73.04% Guarico, 70.59% Monagas, 70.43%

In 11 he won more than 60% of the vote:

Anzoátegui, 60.19% Apure, 69.10% Barinas, 68.74% Bolívar, 67.16% Carabobo, 60.59%  Falcón, 60.96% Distrito Capital, 61.56% Lara, 64.87%    Trujillo, 68.86% Vargas, 68.70% Yaracuy, 63.85%

In 5 states he won more than 50% of the vote:

Mérida, 52% Miranda, 55.09% Nueva Esparta, 58.49% Táchira, 50.81% Zulia, 50.57%

From Granma