The year that could change Venezuela

 
Electing our governors remains a right in force in Venezuela. Over the past years, voting, as a pivotal tool of the democratic system, has managed to survive from the institutional demolition experienced throughout these years, preserving its fundamental attribute of expressing the opinion of majorities.

Nevertheless, in an atypical situation present in the country, passive involvement, lukewarm commitment, indifference or, still worse, abstention, act as disintegrating elements of such right, already harmed by political circumstances and several distorting factors of different kinds.

Hence, the urgency to leap all hurdles and to comprehend the need to reinforce such a right in the understanding that, no matter restrictions, organized, actively involved citizens are capable to enforce the people's mandate.

Therefore, in our particular case, this means overcoming huge obstacles; rather than a somewhat friendly and business-as-usual competition among different yet complementary choices, there is a fierce battle represented by two clashing views of the way of life and societal organization.

Thus, the opposition regards electioneering not as a simple change of government, but as a volte-face of the prevailing political system. For their part, ruling forces target at consolidating a political process expected to become irreversible from October 7.

Such a situation makes voters play their role with unprecedented intensity and sense of responsibility involving massive, organized participation and awareness of what is at stake. It also demands the involvement of those who, empowered to vote, seem to be unwilling to exercise this right. This is the case for many youngsters who have not enrolled in the registry of voters.

The requirement also goes beyond usual political elements, political parties, their leaders and militants. It ought to be an over-arching, widespread effort whether they will continue bearing the fundamental burden of the organizational, strategic and mobilizing tasks able to ensure free, transparent and legitimate expression of the people's will next October 7.

rgiusti@eluniversal.com

Translated by Conchita Delgado Rivas