Caracas Chronicles

Reader causetoujours has an idea: a Repeal Referendum. Article 74 of Venezuela’s Moribund Constitution says:

“Laws may be repealed partially or totally when the repeal is petitioned by at least 10 percent of registered voters or by the President. Decrees (emanating from an Enabling Law) can be repealed in a Referendum if a repeal is petitioned by at least 5 percent of registered voters.

In order for a Repeal Referendum to be valid, at least forty percent of registered voters must go to the polls.

Laws dealing with the budget, those that establish or modify taxes, public credit, amnesty, or those laws that protect, guarantee, or develop human rights and those approving international treaties, cannot be subjected to a Repeal Referendum.”

OK, I know what you’re thinking: the TSJ will decree that any law passed by Chávez’s orcs in the National Assembly “develop human rights” because they establish socialism, and can therefore not be repealed. Still, is this not worth a try? How about channeling the energy and good standing of the University students to repeal the University Law? Or the Ley Resorte? How about the Enabling Law? How about the TSJ law?

How about the whole lot of them?

What other choice we have? Is it time to pressure for the activation of Article 74?

I dunno. I kind of like the idea.