Preposterous pre constitutional pre posturing

The few faithful readers left to this blog would certainly not have been surprised last week when chavismo decided to start "talks" on constitutional programming for the 2013-2019 program of government which must undoubtedly lead to a new attempt at modifying the constitution of 1999.

In a text published on October 21 I explained as clearly as I could that chavismo had to seek a constitutional modification in order to avoid an election were Chavez going to croak before January 2017. amen of seeking to make the presidency hereditary within the Chavez family so as to avoid unpleasant succession wars. I really do not need to add anything to that previous post, except to make limited comments as to the timing and methods chosen by chavismo.

First, curiously chavismo is starting these "constitutional" talks as a ratification of Chavez electoral program. In fact, the ruling party has decided to call its voters to write the actions to be taken for the next 6 years, an interesting acknowledgment that there was no government platform for last month presidential election and that those were strictly about Chavez remaining in office. PERIOD. Though we should at least give them credit for a rather rare hint at candor.....

The real reason for the "constitutional" timing is elsewhere and chavismo also has some candor in admitting it. The thing is that for the 16-December vote chavismo has neither program nor viable candidates. I mean, yesterday I was in Barquisimeto and read a poster for the chavista candidate that read "I voted for Chavez  now, I vote for Reyes Reyes". When this is your argument for been elected.......... and you were already a two term governor.........

What chavismo is trying to do with its "debate constituyente" is to generate a new set of empty promises to try to convince people to go out and vote as they did in October. That they are resorting to such inane actions means that they are not confident that they have enough cash to buy the voters they need, nor that their dismal candidates (in at least a dozen states) have Chavez's pull, the more so that the man seems to have gone into retirement after October 7. Cancer, you know, and campaign self abuse.

At least, let's give credit where credit is due: Chavez has read correctly the October result. Chavez knows that without huge amounts of money spent to buy votes coupled to threats and blackmail, he may not win an election ever gain. So he cannot count on an automatic endorsement of any constitutional reform just because he wants. Now he needs to work it out with the "bases". Quite an interesting change in approach for what looks more and more an ex El Supremo.