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Editorial Commentary
VenEconomy: The General speaks out
On Monday, former Defense Minister Raúl Isaías Baduel spoke out against the proposals to change the 1999 Constitution made by Hugo Chávez and the National Assembly.
General Baduel is one of the three officers promoted to the rank of General in Chief by Hugo Chávez. He has been committed to the revolutionary process right from the start and is one of the most influential officers in the National Armed Force in these Bolivarian times.
These revolutionary credentials have made his rejection of the proposal of a new constitution a matter of considerable interest for all Venezuelans, regardless of whether they oppose the Bolivarian project or not.
From the political and social viewpoint, Baduel’s message was impeccable, clear and forceful.
The General said that the proposal is “regressive” and that it aims to transform the state, as it constitutes “a total change in the contents of the structure and fundamental principles of the 1999 Constitution.” He maintained that its approval would be tantamount to a “coup d’état.”
Baduel also ordered that the government clarify what stripe of socialism is being proposed, adding that it is not rightto “lie” to the people telling them that it is an ambiguous, undefined, “Venezuelan-style socialism.”
He maintained that the country model it is aimed to follow will take power away from the people. He said that they are promising “benefits” in terms of property, employment and other things “in exchange for the people allowing all the authorities and the management of the country and its wealth to remain in the hands of the Executive.” He assured that it is dangerous for the Executive to appropriate spheres of society for itself.
He said that the problems beleaguering Venezuelans “can perfectly well be solved by enforcing what is in the 1999 Constitution.”
He called on “the nation, the Venezuelan people, to “defend” the constitution and “not to be indifferent to this extremely serious issue that will change the lives of all of us who live in this country.” He also called on the competent authorities and institutions “not to be accomplices in this illegal measure.”
In all his criticisms, the General coincides with everything that those who oppose Chávez’ proposal have been saying all along.
The difference is that Baduel supports the “No” vote outright, whereas in the opposition there are those who are in favor of voting “No” and those who support abstention.
Both strategies for addressing the referendum are valid, but those who oppose the change in the Constitution have to decide on just one of them in order to act en bloc and put a stop once and for all to this constitutional “coup d’etat.”
VenEconomy is a Venezuela's leading specialized publisher in the economic and financial area. VenEconomy's Points of View on the issues of the day, as seen by VenEconomy during the last week. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.Editor's note: This commentary was originally published by VenEconomy, on 11/06/2007. Petroleumworld reprint this article in the interest of our readers. Petroleumworld does not necessarily share these views.
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Petroleumworld News 11/07/07
Copyright© 2007 VenEconomy. All rights reserved.
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