Caracas Chronicles

The deepening state of collective insanity also known as the Bolivarian Republic has plumbed bizarre new depths over the last few days. But the news item that really struck me was this clip with Congressman-elect (and frighteningly talented demagogue-in-training) Robert Serra eagerly rushing to register his view that the body he’s just been elected to should be stripped of most of its powers before he’s even taken office.

The entire Enabling Law episode is simply bizarre. Because, let’s just remind ourselves that the legislature whose power Chávez is moving to strip isn’t some opposition-controlled behemoth: it’s a place where unquestioning chavista partisans control 59% of the seats! There’s no real chance of the new Assembly substantially slowing, let alone reversing, any part of the Chávez agenda. Even so, eager new chavista pols who you might think would relish the chance to legislate for the first time in their young lives are all signed up to the plan to Ledezimate it.

You may remember Serra as the frighteningly silver tongued die-hard chavista student drafted in to insult the Manos Blancas movement when its representatives managed to get a speaking slot at the National Assembly some years ago.

These days, he’s one of the 59% of A.N. members who represent 48% of Venezuela’s voters. Yet Serra isn’t trying to reassure his boss that the body he is about to join is going to be just as pliant as the outgoing one. He isn’t trying to tell Chávez that he can leave it to them, that they’ve got his back. No!

Instead, implicitly, he says “you’re right, mi comandante. The 98 PSUV deputies elected? We’re pretty useless…best to bypass us altogether.”

Which, in the end, shows he’s no fool.

Robert Serra understands what Chávez has worked hard to ensure everyone in Venezuela understands. Power rests with him, and only with him. If you want a share of it, your overriding priority is to ingratiate yourself with the president. I mean, duh!