tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21674624.post1364582012254459627..comments2024-02-21T05:16:22.788-05:00Comments on Two Weeks Notice: A Latin American Politics Blog: Waiting for HugoGreg Weekshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15765114859595124082noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-21674624.post-65524381303052483632013-01-09T12:40:23.692-05:002013-01-09T12:40:23.692-05:00I think that a serious examination of the institut...I think that a serious examination of the institutional implications of these proceedings in the National Assembly would show that Greg's arguments are fundamentally unsound. Such arguments reflect a misunderstanding of Venezuelan politics and the relationship between Chavez and his political base. Invoking article 233 at this point would be a much greater threat to institutionality than using article 231 for the simple reason that a huge segment of the society, including some opposition voters, would view it as illegitimate to proceed with another election before it is clear that the president-elect is definitively incapacitated. <br /><br />To argue that it is some sort of travesty of justice that people don't know who the president's doctors are is particularly bizarre, as there's probably no precedent for that either. Bottom line is that both the president-elect and the vice president made it clear that this operation posed risks to the president-elect's life and that, under such conditions, the vice president becomes acting head of state until such time as it becomes clear as to whether Chavez can return to the presidency. This is not an institutional crisis, as it will become clear soon enough as to whether or not the president-elect is able to recuperate or a new election must be held. Justin Delacourhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01343303383195336825noreply@blogger.com