CHAVEZ BEGINS NEW TERM WITH ECONOMIC AND POLITICAL CHALLENGES

   
Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez easily won re-election to another six-year term on July 30. Chávez obtained 59.49% of the votes, compared to 37.55% for opposition candidate Francisco Arias Cárdenas.

Former Costa Rican Vice President Rodrigo Carazo, a member of the observer mission led by former US President Jimmy Carter, described the elections as peaceful and generally fair. Nevertheless, some problems were reported on Election Day, and in at least six states gubernatorial races were tainted by accusations of fraud.

Two factors stood out in the elections: the voting by the military, whose members were allowed to cast ballots for the first time, and the low voter turnout. Approximately 43% of the country's 11 million voters abstained, a figure that most analysts attributed to "electoral fatigue." After six elections in less than 20 months, Venezuelans are tired of going to the polls and want to see the government get to work, especially in managing the economy.

"If anything moved people to vote, it was the economy, even more than politics," reported the Venezuelan newspaper El Nacional. "The country's political parties have lost their niche and identity, and are scarcely differentiated by their identification with special (and not collective) interest….Chávez very skillfully linked his re-election to his interest in and dedication to the economy."

Venezuela's economic and social panorama continues to be difficult. Last year, the economy contracted by 7.2%. The middle and upper classes have been hard hit by the recession, and the unemployment rate is close to 20%. Chávez faces a formidable challenge in confronting these problems with his populist, authoritarian style, which has so polarized public opinion.

Chávez must also overcome some serious political hurdles. Even though his party won more than half of the 165 seats in Venezuela's unicameral legislature, analysts point out that he will have to seek alliances with other parties to obtain a two-thirds majority. As his rival, Francisco Arias, has said, "Chávez is very good at confrontation, but very bad at building consensus."

In recent months, the president has clashed with the press, the Church and political opponents, contributing to an overall climate of political tension. This could account for his uncharacteristic conciliatory tone when he appeared on the balcony of the presidential palace to celebrate his victory, calling for "unity among all Venezuelans."

Chávez fulfilled the analysts' predictions and claimed victory on July 30. Can Venezuelans say the same?