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Politics in Caracas: From Punto Fijo to CHAVEZ

Explore the political history of Caracas, from the Punto Fijo democracy to the rise of Hugo Chavez and the Bolivarian Revolution. Learn how urbanization, decentralization, and social welfare policies shaped the city.

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Politics in Caracas: From Punto Fijo to CHAVEZ

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  1. Politics in Caracas: From Punto Fijo to CHAVEZ

  2. CARACAS

  3. Panoramic View of Caracas

  4. The Emergence of a Primate City • General Juan Vicente Gómez (1908-1935) rules from a distance • Accelerating Growth with a new generation • Elitist democrats initiate modernization • Revolutionaries carry on with planned development

  5. The Emergence of a Primate City: General Marcos Pérez Jimémez • New National Ideal (1952-1958) • Pérez Jiménez intensifies investment in Caracas • Up to 80% of all national investment in some years • Focused on physical infrastructure • Freeways • Housing blocs • Urban renewal • Improvised investment destabilizes the country

  6. Caracas During Consolidation of Punto Fijo Democracy: 1958-69 • Heavy Migration from countryside • Proliferation of shantytowns • Public services stressed • Lack of personal security

  7. Caracas Votes Against Accion Democratica: 1958, 1963 • Failed efforts to control growth • Return to countryside not feasible • Half measures and self-help housing fail to win support for the dominant political parties (AD & COPEI)

  8. Caracas Reasserts Itself • Ruling political elite becomes comfortable in the capital city • Electoral weight leads to massive investment • Urban renewal again • Subway • Subsidized services

  9. Elections in Caracas • 1973 elections – consolidation of two-party dominance nationally • Caracas elections at the same time as national elections • Caracas electorate comes to resemble the rest of Venezuela (1973-1993)

  10. Transforming Local Government in Caracas (1978 – 94) • Failure to institutionalize city managers • Rioting in February 28, 1988 opens the door to institutional reforms • Elected mayors of Libertador (Federal District) • Splintering of Eastern Caracas • Separation into four municipalities • Liquidation of metropolitan area city planning

  11. Consequences of Urban Political Reforms • More decentralization • More accountability to local constituents • Economic downturn trumps political gains

  12. 1998 – Support for something different: Hugo Chávez • Caracas leads the electoral revolution • AD vote falls below 19% • COPEI almost ceases to exist • Most important offices captured by allies of Hugo Chávez • Middle class areas elect mayors from small political parties

  13. Former army paratrooper 1992 failed coup attempt Appeal to the poor Anti-corruption promises Charismatic leader Hugo Chávez

  14. Metropolitan Government in the Fifth Republic • Creation of the Capital District and the Bolivarian Revolution • 1999 Constitution and creation of the Capital District • Genesis of the attempt to create a capital district • Demonstrations at the Constituent Assembly weaken the attempt • The compromise

  15. Struggle between President and “High ” Mayor • Peña had support of Chávez in mega election of 2000 • Metropolitan Police transferred to Alcaldia Mayor • Peña becomes a foe of the Bolivarian Revolution

  16. Struggle between President and “High ” Mayor • Freddy Bernal, a support of President President Chávez is mayor of Libertador • Contest over control of patronage- institutions between Peña / Bernal • Rival views of guarding the political order intensify clashes between the two mayors • Violence that led up to coup of April 11, 2002 illustrates differing loyalties of Peña & Bernal

  17. Caracas Middle Class Attempts to Remove the Government through Demonstrations • December 2002 – February 2003 • City paralyzed • President uses oil reserves to frustrate strikers • Middle class dispirited

  18. Caracas Poor: conditional loyalty to Chávez • Slum dwellers left behind • Desire for revenge • Pro-Chavez graffiti suggests grass roots support

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