Had most of the Venezuelan people asked themselves the following questions in 1998, Chavez would have never taken over: do we want to vote in someone who has attempted to take power by a coup de etat? Would not a golpista trample on our democratic traditions when put in power? Too many simple said, ” anything but what we have at present.” It was no accident that Chavez was voted in when oil prices were at their lowest in years. Most of the dissatisfaction was related to the reduction in oil revenues the government had to distribute.
Given his lack of respect for democratic norms, I doubt Chavez will not leave power peacefully. He will be done in by his own people. A mob will descend from the barrios to storm Miraflores. Unfortunately, this may be decades in the making.
