NO!
The rejection by a majority of Venezuelan voters of Hugo Chavez’s proposal to turn their country into a socialist state is a signal to all of Latin America that the leftist leader does not in fact embody the aspirations of his people. Ordinary citizens from a broad ideological spectrum and from all classes voted against Chavez’s attempted concentration of power, making it harder for him to credibly make populist claims either in Venezuela or the region. Though Chavez has recognized the referendum’s results, he has already made clear that the outcome has not diminished his ambition to carry through his socialist project. With so much power already concentrated in Chavez’s hands—only Fidel Castro has centralized more power in the region—the institutions of a free society, such as the media or private property, are still under assault. The victory of the No vote was critical in limiting Chavez’s power for the moment, but by no means guarantees that democracy will prevail in Venezuela.
Ian Vásquez, Cato Institute
