In 1994, US professor of political sciences Michael Coppedge authored a book with a suggestive title: "Strong parties and lame ducks," where he described how, in the absence of reelection in Venezuela, presidents lost power and had troubles to form coalitions. On visit to Caracas, the professor with the US Kellogg Institute analyzed the latest domestic political changes.

You regarded in 1994 non-reelection as a weakness in the Venezuelan political system. How do you view now the implementation of indefinite reelection?
The scheme of indefinite reelection affords the president more power and authority and prevents the birth of other leaderships within the ruling party. This is among the reasons why it is so difficult for President Hugo Chávez to step down.

What is your opinion about the political process in Venezuela compared with elsewhere in the hemisphere?
Venezuela is one of the few cases of deteriorated quality of democracy in the last decade. I include Bolivia and probably Ecuador in this group. In most cases, democracy is stronger, such as Costa Rica, Uruguay, Chile and Peru. The region is diversified as to its political system.

Is it by chance that such involution occurs under leftwing regimes?
It is complicated. In Bolivia, Ecuador and Venezuela, it is a reaction to the economic crisis in the eighties and nineties.

What should be the role to be played by political parties and civil society in rescuing institutions in Venezuela?
Political parties are always of the essence; but they are not helpful if they are not able to renew democracy in Venezuela. It is a bit difficult here, because there is a tradition of crony relationships, of personal ambition. And opposition parties should fight against these trends to inspire the Venezuelan people. Otherwise, they will hardly offer an alternative to the pro-Chávez choice. Because having an organization and cadres is not enough; there is the need of inspiring ideas, of substance.

Nevertheless, competing with such a powerful government does not seem any simple.
Under these circumstances, fair competition is very difficult. On the one side, the president has the State control and he can spend all oil resources as he pleases, and another force can hardly contend with that. The opposition has several advantages for being widely varied, because it has leaders of rightwing and leftist parties, individual movements and idealist movements. However, they can hardly agree on a coherent government program.

Governance and good governance are possible in the absence of dialogue and search of consensus?
I do not think so. Governance requires some living together. Law and order can be kept with repression, yet it is an illegitimate form. It is better to make people abide by laws because they believe that laws are legitimate. And people will not believe that laws are legitimate if they cannot take part in rulemaking. Therefore, a good government should talk and hold a discussion; pay attention to the preferences and requirements of all citizens instead of a portion of them, for them to afford legitimacy to government decisions.

Can polarization be used as election strategy?
Yes, it works to a certain extent, but people will likely get tired and wish something rather moderate. People are tired of fight. For this reason, the "ni-ni" (neither-nor) group is the largest, according to polls.

How do you view the country's near future?
I must be very pessimistic. On the side of the opposition, I feel much frustration, high disappointment at public services, crime, corruption; they want things to change, but they do not know how to make the change. On the government side, it seems to me that they feel under siege. They are determined to advance the revolution. However, due to oil prices, infrastructure deficiencies, lack of resources, this will be very difficult. It seems to me that over the past few months, the revolutionary process has shut down itself. My interpretation is that they think that this is their last chance of imposing what they want on the economic and social spheres and there is sort of despair about how they will make it. Despair is a feeling shared by Venezuelans in these days.

Translated by Conchita Delgado