Resumen

NIKKEN, Pedro. The Surprising Democratic Congruence of December 2^nd. Revista Venezolana de Economía y Ciencias Sociales [online]. 2008, vol.14, n.2, pp.183-193. ISSN 20030507.

The article begins by underlining positively the fact that in the results of the referendum for the reform of the Constitution were possible to achieve in democracy and without violence in the currently polarized Venezuela. Later, it evaluates contemporary political conditions in Venezuela after the overwhelming electoral victory of the President in December 2006. Among these conditions outstands “la reforma constitucional” (The Reform of the Constitution) as one of the "Los cinco motores de la revolución” (The Five Engines of the Revolution). Then the author pointed the contents considered most relevant from the original proposal for the reform presented the President. The reasons of the electoral unfavourable results to the reform proposal, taking into consideration the contents of the offer itself, the weaknesses of the official sector to set this debate and the strengths of opposing sectors, are evaluated. The article concludes presenting the principal consequences of the electoral results of December 2^nd for Venezuelan social-political reality.

Palabras clave : Venezuela; Constitutional Reform; Democracy.