Venezuela
In Latin America, the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation cooperates with the Unión de Partidos Latinoamericanos (UPLA) – a cooperation organization for center-right parties in Latin America and a member of the International Democrat Union (IDU).
Population: 27.6 million (2011 estimate)
Area: 912 050 km2
GDP (PPP): 344,2 billion dollar (2010 estimate)
GDP per capita (PPP): 12 600 $ (2010 estimate)
Rate of growth: -2.8 % (2010 estimate)
Head of state and head of government: Hugo Chávez Fríaz
Venezuela emerged as one of three states after the collapse of Gran Colombia in 1830. The other two were Ecuador and Colombia. During the first half the 20th century, Venzuela was governed by military regimes of a relatively peaceful disposition. Since 1959, the governments of Venezuela have been elected in a democratic fashion. The country, however, still struggles with political and social problems. These problems pertain to political division, disturbances within the military and to drug trafficking along the Colombian border.
Venezuela is heavily dependent on oil revenues – they make up 90 percent of the export revenues, 50 percent of public finances and one third of GDP. Thus, the Venezuelan economy is robust yet vulnerable and in need of diversification. The Venezuelans perceive themselves as rich and this has fueled consumption. However, this comes at a price – inflation is high, a 2010 estimate is 28,2 percent.
Since the election of Hugo Chávez as president in 1999, the country has become increasingly polarised. Chávez subscribes to what he calls the doctrine of “21st century socialism”. The strategy is to even out social injustices while discrediting globalisation and destabilising the region. The next presidential election will be held in December 2012.
Of great concern is the weakening of democratic institutions, political polarisation, a strengthening of the police force at the expense of the military, drug-related violence along the Colombian border, increasing drug-use, dependence on the oil industry which is subjected to price fluctuations on world markets as well as irresponsible mining projects that threaten rain forests and the habitats of indigenous people. Human rights are respected in theory. In practice, however, matters are different. The legal system is inefficient and corrupt. Venzuela occupies the 138th spot out of 164 on Transparency International’s corruption list.
Chávez’s party, Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV), constitutes the major force in the parliament. The activities of the opposition are curtailed by the government.
The elections in December 2005 were boycotted by the opposition. PSUV, Chávez’s party, won a landslide victory and the remaining parliamentary seats were won by PSUV-allies. In 2007, the controversies surrounding the referendum on a new constitution precipitated the rupture between Podemos and PSUV.
In December of 2007, Venezuela voted against Chávez’s proposal for a new constitution. Despite all of this, Chávez is in full control of the economy, all according to his doctrine of “21st century socialism”. Chávez seeks to promote himself internationally by funding various projects abroad – ranging from a gas project in London to projects in Bolivia and Ecuador. Chávez has solicited the leaders of Cuba, Bolivia, Ecuador, Zimbabwe, North Korea, Syria and Iran. He has also helped Argentina with payments on its enormous debt to the International Monetary Fund (IMF).
In September 2010, the opposition strengthen their positions in the general election. The pro-Chevez parties gained 48,9 percent of the votes and the opposition parties reached 47,7 percent. Due to the electoral system, the pro-Chevez parties are still controlling a vast majority of the seats in the parliament, 98 seats compared to 65 seats for the opposition. The Jarl Hjalmarson foundation cooperates with Proyecto Venezuela.
In May 2008, the Unión de Naciones Suramericanas (Unasur) was founded. It is a union of the South American nations modelled on the EU. The union already has twelve member states, though its function is, as of yet, mostly symbolic.
It is a stated goal of the Jarl Hjalmarson Foundation to educate female decision-makers. In the autumn of 2010, the conference Empoderamiento de Mujeres took place in Honduras. The participants came from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua, Paraguay, Venezuela and the Dominican republic. Concurrently with this conference a youth conference was arranged around a Jarl Hjalmarson publication entitled “Principles for a Free Society”.
