Capriles Radonski and His Vision for Venezuela
Capriles Radonski and His Vision for Venezuela
The opposition candidate has yet to fully outline his presidential priorities, but his advisors indicate a balanced approach that would not break with many of President Hugo Chávez's policies.
After years of being rudderless, Venezuela’s opposition to Hugo Chávez finally has a leader. Miranda Governor Henrique Capriles Radonski soundly defeated four other candidates on February 12 to become the opposition’s sole presidential candidate for October’s presidential election. That he did so without providing details on his vision makes his victory all the more remarkable.
Three million people showed up to select the presidential candidate, as well as candidates for dozens of mayoral and gubernatorial races. Capriles Radonski won with 62 percent of the vote, beating his closest rival among voters across all income levels and winning in all but two of the nation’s 23 states. In Caracas, he won with 76 percent of the vote.
Capriles Radonski has honed his message relentlessly during the primary season. He talks of there being “a way” of “progress for everyone,” where education is the centerpiece and where “quality employment” is available to all, regardless of political affiliation.
But putting the clichés and slogans aside, what exactly is Capriles Radonski’s vision? Chávez claims he is a “rancid right-winger,” but past writings from some of his top advisers support Capriles Radonski’s claim that he is instead a progressive follower of the model of former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
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Juan Nagel is a professor of economics at Universidad de los Andes in Santiago, Chile and is co-editor of Caracas Chronicles, an English-language blog on Venezuelan politics. He divides his time between Chile and Venezuela. Follow Juan on Twitter: @juannagel.
