BOLIVARIAN CARACAS BOLIVARIAN CARACAS 23 de Enero Urban

BOLIVARIAN CARACAS

BOLIVARIAN CARACAS 23 de Enero Urban Gardens

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2005 CAPITAL DISTRICT Alfredo Peña (incumbant) withdraws after polls suggest that he will lose Bolivarian candidate Juan Barreto (63%) against 38% for the opposition candidate Greater Caracas Council (Cabildo Metropolitano) 13 members (Bolivarian majority in 2005 municipal elections) Powers similar to state legislature

THE MESSAGE OF THE OPPOSITION POLITICAL PARTIES

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2005: MIDDLE CLASS MUNICIPIOS Baruta - Henrique Capriles Radonski (77%) Chacao –Leopoldo López (80%) El Hatillo- Alfredo Catalán Schick opposition

MUNICIPAL ELECTIONS 2004: LIBERTADOR AND SUCRE Freddy Bernal comfortable margin (74%) against opposition candidate Carlos Melo (19%) in Libertador José Vicente Rangel (52%) in eastern municipio of Sucre

JUAN BARRETO: ALCALDE MAYOR

METROPOLITAN POLICE Controlled by the Governor of Caracas (named by president 1961 constitution ) Transfered to Alcalde Mayor in 1999 Protected opposition between 1999 – 2005 Disarmed by President Chávez Regained influence following election of Juan Barreto as Alcalde Mayor

Health care a major issue among the urban poor Barrio Adentro established in 2003 as one of the Revolution’s special “MISIONES” Cuban doctors provide medical care of the poor areas on a 24/7 basis Barrio Adentro paid for through a budget controlled directly by President Chavez D o not go through any of the social ministries

THREE TIER HEALTH CARE SYSTEM “Barrio Adentro” doctors: provide most immediate care to residents “Popular clinics” : perform simple operations such as tonsillectomies and appendectomies “Hospital of the People”: treat the most serious illnesses and conditions

EDUCATION MISSIONS (CONTROLLED BY NATIONAL GOVERNMENT) Robinson Rivas Sucre

Located in poor neighborhoods Subsidized prices Cultivates image of Bolivarian revolution with urban poor Ongoing tension with the commercial supermarkets Aves Embutidos Enlatados Leguminosas Cereales Lácteos Harinas Pastas Aderezos Endulzantes Pescados Quesos

ELECTIONS OF 23 NOVEMBER 2008: MIXED RESULTS Alcalde Mayor passes to opposition (Antonio Ledezma) Libertador Municipio remains with PSUV Sucre passes to opposition Middle Class municipios remain with opposition Chacao Baruta El Hatillo

APRIL 2009: RETURN OF CENTRALIZED CONTROL OVER THE CAPITAL DISTRICT Territorial reorganization aimed at political subdivisions controlled by the opposition National Assembly passes Special law for the regime of the Capital District Jacqueline Faría appointed Autoridad Unica Ledezma & opposition challenge constitutionality of the “Special Law”

GOVERNMENT IN METROPOLITAN CARACAS: THE FUTURE Institutional development in a state of flux Restoration of the old Federal District and control by the president Increasing power/influence of Communal Councils & Misiones Conflict between role of component municipal institutions, metropolitan institutions and institutions of national government is ongoing

GOVERNMENT IN METROPOLITAN CARACAS: (HOW DEMOCRATIC? ) Bolivarian Revolution & President Chavez essentially opposed to decentralization Middle class municipios of metropolitan Caracas remain a thorn in the side of the national government Aristobolo Isturiz – the alcaldes will eventually disappear

CARACAS REMAINS THE CENTER OF VENEZUELAN POLITICS Who controls the capital city rules the nation