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Election Date: December 3, 2005

At stake: National Assembly

Background

A country deeply divided in followers and detractors of an eccentric president, Venezuela is also the fifth largest oil exporter in the world. A populist left-wing government has led the nation for the past six years, concentrating on social programs and opposing open market policies in the name of a "Bolivarian Revolution."

In 1947, renowned native writer Rómulo Gallegos of Democratic Action (AD) became the first democratically elected president in the South American country. He was ousted a few months later in a military coup led by Marcos Pérez Jiménez. A repressive dictatorship was instated until 1958, when a popular revolt forced the colonel to flee the country.

A new constitution was implemented in 1961. Oil revenues maintained the Venezuelan economy in a privileged position, but also increased the country's wealth gap.

In the mid-1970s—under the rule of the AD's Carlos Andrés Pérez—Venezuela benefited from high oil prices in the international market. The country joined the economic association of Latin American States known as the Andean Group, and nationalized the oil and iron industries.

In the early 1980s, Venezuela's prosperity and low foreign debt came to an end when oil prices fell worldwide. As inflation and unemployment raised causing political instability, Pérez took office again in 1989. After surviving two violent attempted coups in 1992, his presidency ended when he was accused of corruption. In 1996, Pérez was sentenced to 28 months of house arrest for aggravated generic embezzlement.

Former president Rafael Caldera—who had governed from 1969 to 1974—came back to power in 1994 representing the National Convergence (CN) party. Caldera started a process of privatization of national industries that his successor would radically reverse.

In 1999, Hugo Chávez—a former colonel who served two years in jail for leading one of the coups against Pérez—was elected president running as an independent.

Chávez halted the privatization process and took measures to increase oil prices. In 1999, a new constitution was approved after a national referendum. The presidential term was extended from four to six years with the possibility of consecutive reelection. The president was also granted more power to take economic decisions, and the unicameral National Assembly was established.

In July 2000, Chávez won the presidential election with 59.5 per cent of the vote, representing the Patriotic Pole (PP) coalition. The alliance included Chávez's Fifth Republic Movement (MVR), the Movement to Socialism (MAS), and Fatherland for Everybody (PPT).

In 2001, the left-wing leader introduced 49 new laws, including some that gave the state tighter controls over the oil industry and land reforms.

In 2002, Chávez faced a general strike after he tried to take full control of the state-administered oil company Petróleos de Venezuela. That same year, he survived a 48-hour coup led by businessman Pedro Carmona and some rogue military officers. Ten people died and more than a hundred were injured when thousands of Chávez followers and detractors clashed in street demonstrations.

A recall referendum on Chávez's rule took place in August 2004, after many attempts from the opposition to gather enough signatures to force a ballot. 59 per cent of all voters supported the head of state, in elections considered as "transparent" by the Organization of American States (OAS).

2005 National Assembly Election

In January, Hugo Chávez—who is expected to run again for the presidency in 2006—announced a decree that will allow the government to redistribute land in the country's largest states. Colombia and Venezuela engaged in a diplomatic argument over the capture of a Colombian guerrilla member in Venezuelan soil.

In February, a poll by Datanalisis showed 73 per cent of the population benefited from different social programs implemented by Chávez' government, which resulted in a boost of the president's popularity to 70.5 per cent.

On May 17, anti-Castro Cuban radical and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative Luis Posada Carriles was arrested in the United States. Venezuela called for his extradition to face charges related to a 1976 airplane bombing. Posada was jailed in Venezuela for nine years, but was never convicted and escaped in 1985. The issue remains unsolved and has raised tensions between Venezuela and the U.S.

On May 31, María Corina Machado—a well-known member of the Venezuelan opposition—met with U.S. president George W. Bush at the White House. Chávez has accused Machado and her group Súmate of treason after receiving funds from the U.S. Congress to finance the 2004 recall referendum. Machado and three other members of Súmate will be tried in Venezuela later this year.

On Jun. 27, the Police in Caracas killed three students after they ignored a call to stop at a checkpoint.

On Jun. 28, a poll by Consultores 21 revealed the Fifth Republic Movement (MVR)—established by Chávez in 1997—remains the leading party in Venezuela. 41.7 of respondents said they would support MVR candidates in the upcoming election. In the July 2000 election, the MVR won 80 out of the 165 seats at the National Assembly, followed by the alliance of Democratic Action (AD) and the Social Christian Party (COPEI) with 37 seats.

On Jun. 29, Venezuela signed the Petrocaribe alliance with 13 Caribbean states. The latter will benefit from direct and cheaper oil supply from Venezuela.

On Jul. 3, Chávez requested the maximum penalty of 30 years in prison for the 20 military and six police officers accused of participating in the Jun. 27 slayings.

Also on Jul. 3, U.S. ambassador William Brownfield said the Venezuelan government is not cooperating with U.S. authorities in the war against drugs and terrorism. The U.S. State Department considers Chávez "a negative force in the region" and has criticized his close ties with Cuban leader Fidel Castro. Chávez has accused the U.S. of supporting the opposition, and backing the 2002 coup against him. He has also threatened to cut oil supplies to the U.S. if the Bush administration takes any action against his government.

On Jul. 4, Chávez declared that almost every person in Venezuela is now literate, thanks to the "Misión Robinson" education campaign.

On Nov. 29, three opposition parties—Democratic Action (AD), the Social Christian Party (Copei) and Project Venezuela (Proven)—pulled out of Sunday's election, accusing the electoral body of favouring pro-government candidates.

AD party leader Henry Ramos demanded a deferral of the elections until equal conditions for all parties are guaranteed. Vice-president José Vicente Rangel said the AD withdrew because it faced defeat, adding, "The opposition says this election isn't clean. It's the cleanest in Venezuela's history."

On Nov. 30, Chávez criticized the opposition for its decision, saying, "They should accept the truth that they have no followers. This is an attempt at political sabotage."

On Dec. 1, a fourth party—Justice First (PJ)—joined the opposition boycott. In a statement, the PJ said it could not assure its supporters that the election would be fair "in light of the political earthquake."

Voting took place on Dec. 4. Preliminary tallies suggest the MVR secured 114 of the 167 seats. Turnout was tabled at less than 25 per cent.

On Dec. 7, European Union (EU) mission chief Jose Albino Silva said the election was fair and transparent, but added, "Wide sectors of Venezuelan society do not have trust in the electoral process and in the independence of the electoral authority." OAS monitors voiced "reservations" over the handling of the ballot, including a decision to keep some voting stations open past the designated hours, and the possibility that public workers may have been pressured to vote.

A U.S. State Department communiqué said Venezuelans demonstrated a "broad lack of confidence in the impartiality and transparency" of the process.

The pro-Chávez party will hold more than two-thirds of the legislative mandates, a fact that could simplify the push for constitutional amendments.

Political Players

President: Hugo Chávez - MVR
Executive vice-president: Diosdado Cabello

The president is elected to a six-year term by popular vote.

Legislative Branch: The Asamblea Nacional (National Assembly) will have 167 members, elected to five-year terms by proportional representation.

Results of Last Election:

President: Jul. 30, 2000

National Assembly - Dec. 4, 2005

Note: Democratic Action (AD), the Social Christian Party (Copei), Project Venezuela (Proven), Justice First (PJ) and New Time (UNT) boycotted the election.

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