Democracy in Venezuela refers to the system of governance that has prevailed in Venezuela since direct election at the presidential level and later in the 1990s at the regional level. Democracy as a system of government in the country has had a history interrupted by coups d'état, some in the name of democracy itself. From 1958 onward, Venezuela was considered to be a relatively stable democracy within a continent that was facing a wave of military dictatorship, consuming almost all Latin American countries in the 1970s. By 1977, Venezuela was the only one of three democracies in Latin America, along with Colombia and Costa Rica. With the election of Hugo Chávez in the 1998 presidential election, the country started experiencing democratic backsliding. In 2008, Venezuela was ranked the least democratic nation in South America in The Economist Democracy Index, and by 2022 it ranked 147th out of 167 countries, with a rating of an authoritarian regime.
The transitional government of Rómulo Betancourt made the necessary reforms for the first free and direct elections in history, the 1947 general election, which resulted in the election of the writer Rómulo Gallegos as president. The period was known as the Trienio Adeco (Adeco Triennium) and was only partially democratic, as some parties were disqualified. The period was finally interrupted by the 1948 coup d'état.
Rómulo Betancourt was the first directly elected president to complete his term in office in 1964.
From 1958 onward, Venezuela was considered to be a relatively stable democracy within a continent that was facing a wave of military dictatorship, consuming almost all Latin American countries in the 1970s.[6][7] By 1977, Venezuela was, along with Colombia and Costa Rica, one of only three democracies in Latin America.[8] Until the early 1980s, it was one of Latin America's four most prosperous states; with an upper-middle economy, and a stable centre-left democracy.[7] The collapse of the oil market in the 1980s left Venezuela (a major crude oil exporter) in great debt.[6][7]
Democracy was put to the test when socio-economic deterioration and political discontent in some quarters were reflected in two coup attempts in the 1990s.
Two leaders were tried and imprisoned in democracy during the rest of the 20th century: Marcos Pérez Jiménez in 1963 (more than four years) and Carlos Andrés Pérez in 1993 (more than two years).[9][10]
The February 1992 Venezuelan coup attempt was led by Hugo Chávez, who was later elected in 1998 Venezuelan presidential election by appealing on the desires of the poor and pledging economic reforms,[11][12] and, once in office, securing his power by creating an authoritarian regime, following a relatively stable pattern between 1999 and 2003.[13] Chávez started rewriting the constitution swiftly after arriving in-office.[14] After enabling himself to legally rewrite the constitution and therewith amending a presidential term from five to six years, with a single reelection, Chávez gained full control over the military branch. This allowed him to determine military promotions and eliminate the Senate. As a result, he no longer required legislative approval.[14][15] The weakening of political institutions and increased government corruption transformed Venezuela into a personal dictatorship.[13][16][17]
Chavez's dominance of the media (including a constant presence on television) and his charismatic personality contributed to democratic backsliding in Venezuela,[18] in addition to constitutional revisions that concentrated Chávez's power and diminished the executive's accountability.[19]
In 2008, Venezuela was ranked the least democratic nation in South America in The Economist Democracy Index. The same year, Freedom House removed Venezuela from its list of countries with representative democracy.[22]
During the government of Nicolás Maduro, 1441 people were disqualified from holding political office in Venezuela,[23] including three of the opposition leaders: former governor and presidential candidate Henrique Capriles, former mayor Leopoldo López and former deputy María Corina Machado.[23]
By 2022, according to The Economist Democracy Index, Venezuela ranked 147th out of 167 countries, with a rating of an authoritarian regime.[24]
