Political polarization and limited citizen trust in democratic institutions continues to afflict the Venezuelan political system. President Hugo Chávez, who was elected in large part by capitalizing on the failures of traditional parties, extended his mandate for another six years in the December 2006 presidential election. Although a majority of Venezuelans voted in opposition to constitutional reforms proposed in December 2007, the governing Venezuelan United Socialist Party (PSUV) won more than 70 percent of gubernatorial and mayoral races in the November 2008 regional elections. In February 2009, Venezuelans again went to the polls and voted to allow indefinite re-election for all elected officials, including the president. Chávez thereafter announced his candidacy for the 2012 presidential elections.
President Chávez’s administration continues to enjoy popular support as demonstrated by recent elections and ongoing public opinion polling. Actions by this administration, however, continue to raise serious concerns about the erosion of democratic institutions and processes. These actions include decisions to disqualify nearly 400 candidates from participating in 2008 regional elections, legal proceedings against prominent civil society and opposition leaders, legislative debate to increase government oversight of civil society activity, utilization of broad executive “decree power,” recentralization of power in the executive and excessive use of public resources in elections.
Economic and security issues are principal concerns among Venezuelans, to which newly elected political parties will have to respond at state and municipal levels. Opposition parties won control several key elections, including that for mayor of Greater Caracas as well as governor of the most politically and economically important states of Carabobo, Miranda and Zulia, among others. Municipal council and National Assembly elections will be held in 2010.
The global economic crisis, however, has added new challenges for pro-government and opposition officials alike. A precipitous drop in the price of oil combined with the wider global economic crisis has caused the federal government to reduce its 2009 budget by approximately 25 percent, thereby limiting resources for all dependent states and municipalities.
Within this context, parties continue to be faced with challenges, including limited ability to aggregate and represent citizen concerns from all sectors of society and a weak capacity for internally democratic and inclusive party structures.
Building on its activities in Venezuela since 1995, NDI seeks to help reduce political polarization and to support democratic practices by working in partnership with Venezuelans to share international experiences for the reform and modernization of political parties.
Political Party Strengthening
As a cornerstone of any democratic society, political parties play a unique role in aggregating and representing citizen interests and providing a structure for constructive political participation. Many Venezuelan analysts argue that the current polarization has its roots in the collapse of the nation’s party system during the 1980s and 1990s. During that time, Venezuelans began to reject political parties, perceiving them as closed, out-of-touch and tainted by corruption. Today, these challenges continue to affect parties’ efforts to reconnect with citizens.
In response to these challenges, NDI is working with reform-minded leaders of Venezuelan political parties across the democratic political spectrum to better engage new sectors of society, more effectively present policy platforms, and improve transparency. NDI is working with politically marginalized groups, including women and youth party members, to increase their leadership skills and capacity to promote internal party reforms. Through the use of NDI party strengthening materials and exchanges with domestic and international practitioners who have successfully strengthened parties in other countries, NDI seeks to assist Venezuelan parties to better respond to the needs of citizens and strengthen their ability to propose meaningful policies.
Past Activities
National Election Monitoring
Election monitoring by nonpartisan civic organizations has played an important role in strengthening democracy in Latin America and other regions. Networks of independent volunteer observers have helped increase public confidence in election processes by deterring and exposing irregularities, providing a constructive avenue for popular political participation, and collecting information to improve future elections.
NDI technical assistance to Venezuelan nonpartisan election observation initiatives has included sharing best practices learned by regional monitoring groups and NDI in-house technical expertise gained through observation efforts in more than 80 countries. NDI activities have included technical assistance to support Venezuelan efforts to systematically collect qualitative information and conduct a “quick count” to provide an independent check on the voting process.
In 2006, NDI assisted Venezuelans to organize an election-day observation program for the presidential election, as it did for the 2005 municipal and National Assembly elections and the 1998 presidential election. In preparation for the 1999 constituent assembly process, NDI helped to educate Venezuelans on constitutional reform processes in other Latin American countries by preparing materials and organizing educational forums. In 1995, NDI supported a Venezuelan monitoring effort for municipal elections in four cities. NDI also helped conduct a nationwide survey and an international seminar on electoral reform issues that same year.
Leadership Program
As part of its regional Political Leadership Program (LP), in 1999 and 2000 NDI provided assistance to emerging Venezuelan political leaders and their parties on topics such as political party renewal, strategic planning, negotiation, and outreach to under-represented sectors of society. The LP seeks to develop the skills of emerging political leaders to promote modern, transparent and responsive political parties. LP participants represented the Venezuelan parties Acción Democrática, COPEI, Movimiento Quinta República, and Proyecto Venezuela.
Municipal Governance Oversight
Beginning in 2001, NDI sought to re-engage citizens in politics and political parties by promoting accountability at the municipal level. NDI partnered with Argentine Transparency International chapter Poder Ciudadano, a Venezuelan civic group, and six municipal governments to implement anti-corruption and accountability mechanisms to increase citizen input in decision making and to encourage oversight of local government administration. Five different political parties and movements governed the participating municipalities in four states: Causa R (Diego Bautista Urbaneja, Anzoátegui); Movimiento PROGUAN (Guanta, Anzoátegui); Movimiento Quinta República (Simón Bolívar, Anzoátegui); Primero Justicia (Baruta, Greater Caracas); Primero Justicia (Los Salias, Miranda); and Proyecto Venezuela (Naguanagua, Carabobo).
Contact Information
For more information about these programs, use our contact form or contact:
Washington, D.C.
Jim Swigert, Regional Director
(202) 728-6311
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