Winning more than 99 out of 167 National Assembly seats, Venezuela’s Democratic Unity coalition has become the majority party in Congress, marking a rare shift in power – one that hasn’t taken place in 17 years. The socialist alliance, previously led by the late Hugo Chavez, has been in power ever since Chavez won his first election in 1998, according to Time.
“We are entering a period of transition,” said Henry Ramos, an opposition leader, to The New York Times. “The government is very weak.” Ramos predicts current president Nicolás Maduro will be removed by “constitutional means” before his term is over in 2019.
Chavez may have been revered by the left, but the economy suffered because of his practices. After Chavez’s death in 2013, inflation reached 84 percent, and the country has had a well-documented shortage of goods.
We reached out to creatives from Venezuela, most of whom have lived under the era of chavismo for most of their lives, to learn more about what they expect from this election.
Interviews edited for clarity.
1
"I'm happy, however, it's just a first step."
When did you first become aware of chavismo?
When I was living in Venezuela, and I started seeing lots of [news stories] and Chavez interviews on TV and other media before he was even a candidate. Nobody thought he had a shot at winning, but he did.
How has chavismo affected your life?
I basically had to leave my country to look for better opportunities. Even though I didn’t leave because of Chavez, when I finished grad school in NY, I didn’t have a country. It was socially divided and a lot of anger on both sides.
I also had two good friends in jail for political reasons. One for 3 years and another for 11 months, who thankfully got out last month.
How do you feel about this shift?
I’m happy, but it’s just a first step. I hope the opposition leaders give back to the Venezuelan voters. It’s a lot of responsibility, considering it’s the first election the opposition wins in 17 years. It’s not an easy task. They need to be very strategic with how to play the national assembly. Venezuela needs a change where we stop calling ourselves chavistas and escualidos. We are all Venezuelans and we just want to have our beautiful country back.
2
"...they won't pass the torch as easily as we think they will."
When did you first become aware of chavismo?
I was at a party when Chavez’s first coup happened… My dad stormed into my room to see if I was there; I was like: ‘I am sorry, I know I was late.” He said, “…Whatever. There is a coup going on. Did you see tanks in the street?”
A few hours later, this skinny mad-looking guy was on TV calling all the troops to surrender, making his first historic media statement: “por ahora.”
I was majoring in journalism and Chavez was seen as a hero. There were a lot of things not working well with the government back then. He quickly became an icon; somebody that stands up to the man. He was the trending topic of every teacher there. So many people loved and supported him. He woke everybody up and made them realize Venezuela was due for a change. You kind of follow the trend in the streets, but in my family there has always been weird feelings about the military’s use of power and, as a musician who was always out late with long hair, I was always scared to bump in to these guys. We were among the first people to know how they use guns and power to intimidate. Never a big fan of the guy.
How has chavismo affected your life?
Well, it hurts to feel that the country where you grew up is so different now. Everyone in my family is affected in their daily life, like going to buy groceries became a nightmare. Friends have loved ones suffering because there isn’t medicine. Me and everyone I know have been robbed, some of them kidnapped. And we have all been victims of the abuse of power, even when you are trying to get like a document or just passing through somewhere. I grew up in a place where I would ride a bike for hours, where I walked home since I was 10, where I could work my way around without owning a car, that has the most beautiful beaches, the biggest smiles, the tastiest meals – and it hurts that all those things are harder to find now.
Also, it’s embarrassing that our government class is so impolite, bad-mannered and aggressive; it’s a shame that these guys represent my country.
Also, being part of Los Amigos for so many years, I was one of the ones that felt firsthand how people were migrating away from Venezuela; sometimes I would even feel guilty cause shows would get sold out by compatriotas missing home.
In the work field, it’s hard to measure, but the amount of talent that escaped from Venezuela is insane. I am in contact with most of the cats that come here to make music and there is like a weekly update on the number; I have heard that in the oil field, the most talented Venezuelans are not working for Venezuela anymore.
How do you feel about this shift?
It’s the beginning of a new era. Venezuelans are united in the idea of a better country, but my fear – as is many people’s – is that the people that rule Venezuela have have deals with the devil, and they won’t pass the torch as easily as we think they will.
I am very happy for my country, very happy.
–Jose Luis Pardo, guitars and keyboard for Los Crema Paraiso and former Amigos Invisible Member
3
"I also feel this is a chance for the bigger shift to take place progressively and strategically."
When did you first become aware of chavismo?
I don’t remember an exact moment. It certainly wasn’t after Chavez’s first win in 1998. At that time I think I saw it just as one more president (a very particular and “crazy” one) who would come and go. I wasn’t aware that “chavismo” would become such a big movement that would mark an era in the country’s modern history.
How has chavismo affected your life?
I moved to Miami before 1998, so the impact in my life has been quite different than most Venezuelans. But it has definitely had an impact. I have many relatives in Venezuela and they all suffer through the social and economic problems of the country. I haven’t been there in over 5 years and haven’t taken my kids there. We teach them and live by most Venezuelan traditions, but we don’t feel safe taking them there to meet our country and relatives. On the other hand, all my best friends from high school and some relatives moved to Miami because of it.
How do you feel about this shift?
This shift is historical. Apart from all the legal and political implications, one of the most important gains is the hope and empowerment people now feel. Whenever the next presidential elections take place, motivation will be as never before. I also feel this is a chance for the bigger shift to take place progressively and strategically. 100+ people were elected, not one. So there’s little room for expectations (or self-attribution) of a messiah type of savior.
–Luis A. Sanabria, SHOCK Entertainment, Inc.
4
"...Chávez was this populist snake charmer, so it was practically unavoidable."
When did you first become aware of chavismo?
I was still in high school when Chávez first ran for president in 1998, but there were already people who supported him since his failed coup d’état back in 1992. My family and I were alarmed to see so many people supporting this military guy who had already tried to take the presidency by force in the past, but they really wanted a break from what had been going on in the political scene for years and years, and Chávez was this populist snake charmer, so it was practically unavoidable.
How has chavismo affected your life?
Chavismo affected my life on every single level. They destroyed and continue to destroy pretty much everything they touch. In terms of economy and opportunities for young people like me, it became a wasteland, and the situation finally pushed me to leave the country, leaving my whole life there behind. But one of the saddest things is the extreme polarization we’ve been experiencing as a society for over 16 years. Chavismo has broken up families to the point where they hate each other, and that’s unforgivable and so hard to fix. I’ve experienced that in my own family and group of friends.
How do you feel about this shift?
I truly feel ecstatic and hopeful. Every single election process in recent Venezuelan history has been plagued with irregularities, intimidation, state violence, and wild use of public money to finance Chavismo’s campaigns. To finally be able to beat that, it says a lot about the profound discomfort in the country and also about the power of massive participation. This shift means we cut one head of the government’s hydra and regained the Assembly’s independence. Even though it won’t be an easy road, it’s a great first step in the right direction. Plus: we just elected our first transgendered congresswoman, Tamara Adrián!
-Algodon Egipcio, musician
5
"The way he and his demagogic politics ruined the country made my everyday living a nightmare."
When did you first become aware of chavismo?
Chavez was a candidate during my senior year of high school. I wasn’t aware of the implications of him being a military man and a “golpista”. I was naive, he seemed funny.
How has chavismo affected your life?
In a very negative way. He created (or at least made bigger) a symbolic divide between Venezuelans: as an anti-chavista, I didn’t get the same opportunities or money as the other chavista artists did. And the way he and his demagogic politics ruined the country made my everyday living a nightmare.
How do you feel about this shift?
Hopeful! It’s a new beginning.
-Ulises Hadjis, musician