Resumo

LANDER, Edgardo. The Referendum for the Reform of the Constitution, The Venezuelan Political Process Enters a Critical Crossroad. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.2, pp.131-163. ISSN 20030507.

Starting from the crucial results for the future of the political process in Venezuela of December 2^nd, the article contributes with elements for the analysis of the new situation that is opened to Venezuela and, more particularly, to the "chavism" electoral defeat. It begins for presenting in the first part, the electoral results of the referendum for the project of constitutional reform. Also it analyzes in the second part the conditions in which it was elaborated and promoted. In the third part, it elaborates on the different aspects and contents of the project evaluating its merits and vices. The fourth chapter evaluates the tone and topics of the post-referendum debate. Here the focus is on the “inner debate “of the political and social forces that support the change process. It is outlined the recovery of a critical and self-critical debate. Also it discerns about the debates motivated by the public management faults, besides insecurity and corruption as contributing factors for the electoral results. It finishes identifying the principal political-ideological driven bases of the discussion. As a conclusion, tensions and options that December electoral results proposed for Venezuela future are presented.

Palavras-chave : Venezuela; Reform of the Constitution; Participative Democracy; Socialism.