December 1999 Venezuelan constitutional referendum

A constitutional referendum was held in Venezuela on 15 December 1999.^[1] Voters were asked whether they approved of the new constitution drawn up by the Constitutional Assembly elected earlier in the year. It was approved by 72% of voters, although turnout was only 44%.^[2]

December 1999 Venezuelan constitutional referendum

15 December 1999
Do you endorse the new Constitution drafted by the National Constituent Assembly?
Results
Choice Votes  % Yes 3,301,475 71.78% No 1,298,105 28.22% Valid votes 4,599,580 95.45% Invalid or blank votes 219,476 4.55% Total votes 4,819,056 100.00% Registered voters/turnout 10,940,596 44.05%
Results by state

Question

The question was:

Do you endorse the new Constitution drafted by the National Constituent Assembly?

Background

After over three months of work, the Constituent presented its draft constitution on 19 November, which was only opposed by four constituents: Claudio Fermín, Alberto Franceschi, Jorge Olavarría and Virgilio Ávila Vivas, who argued that power was being centralized and that a military estate was going to be formed.^[3][4]

Campaign

A referendum was then called for 15 December in order to approve or reject the text. Democratic Action, Copei, Justice First, Project Venezuela and Fedecamaras campaigned against the approval of the Constitution. Although these forces agreed that a new Magna Carta was necessary in general, they were in complete disagreement with the result, where their representation had been symbolic.^[5][6][7][8]

Critics believed that the new constitution centralized the national government greatly, granting it too much power while also making too many promises.^[9] Henrique Capriles Radonski, then Vice President of the Congress and President of the Chamber of Deputies, stated "This is a centralist, presidentialist constitution with no spread of power to the states and cities ... This is a corrupt constitution that will leave Venezuela backward and poor".^[9] Others scoffed at all of the red tape the constitution granted which would scare away foreign investment while also recognizing over-reliance on imported goods.^[9]

Weeks before the referendum, tens of thousands protested against the constitutional changes on 24 November 1999, stating that it granted the president, Hugo Chávez, too much power.^[9] Chávez responded to his opposition, stating "Those who side with the 'No' vote should get ready because the attack will be merciless ... I will put my boots on and unsheathe my sword".^[9]

Conduct

The referendum took place under the same climate of apathy as the one held in April, although the turnout rose to 44%. The increased turnout was attributed to opposition to the new constitution, as the Chavismo suffered marginal losses.^[10][11] Although the state of fragmentation of the partisan opposition, which seemed not to have overcome the 1998 defeat, did not allow them to assume an enthusiastic campaign for the "No", the opposition experienced an increase of 142% with respect to the last referendum.^[10][11][12] However, the majority of Venezuelans continued to show disinterest in the struggle between pro-government and opposition, even when the constitution was at stake.^[12]

Results

Choice		Votes	%
For		3,301,475	71.78
Against		1,298,105	28.22
Total		4,599,580	100.00
Valid votes		4,599,580	95.43
Invalid/blank votes		220,206	4.57
Total votes		4,819,786	100.00
Registered voters/turnout		10,940,596	44.05
Source: Nohlen

See also

• April 1999 Venezuelan constitutional referendum
• 1999 Venezuelan Constituent Assembly election
• 1999 Constituent National Assembly of Venezuela

References

1. Dieter Nohlen (2005) Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume II, p555 ISBN 978-0-19-928358-3
2. Nohlen, p567
3. Combellas, Ricardo (January 2003). "El proceso constituyente y la Constitución de 1999". Politeia. 26 (30): 100–113. ISSN 0303-9757. Archived from the original on 27 July 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
4. Agence France-Presse (22 November 1999). "Se inicia campaña en Venezuela". Panamá América. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
5. "Copei ratificó su rechazo al proyecto constitucional". Analítica semanal. 1–8 December 1998. Archived from the original on 31 October 2005. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
6. "Constituyentes de la provincia emboscaron la descentralización". NotiTarde. 1 December 1999. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
7. "Empresarios, por el No". Clarín (Argentina). 24 November 1999. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
8. Valente, Jesús (22 September 1999). "Constituyente: Henrique Capriles Radonsky". Analítica.com. Archived from the original on 4 October 2011. Retrieved 22 September 2011.
9. Murdock, Deroy (14 December 1999). "VIEW FROM THE U.S.: Power grab has some Venezuelans worried: A6". The Windsor Star.
10. "Resultados electorales referendo 15/12/1999" (PDF). Consejo Nacional Electoral (Venezuela). Retrieved 23 September 2011.
11. "Resultados electorales referendo consultivo nacional 25/04/1999" (PDF). Consejo Nacional Electoral (Venezuela). Retrieved 23 September 2011.
12. Pérez Baralt, Carmen (July–December 2000). "Cambios en la participación electoral venezolana: 1998-2000". Cuestiones Políticas. 25: 9–21. ISSN 0798-1406. Retrieved 22 September 2011.