Particularities of Venezuela’s constitutional process: from history to modernity

Abstract

The article examines the origins of the political tension that arose in Venezuela in 2013 on the eve of the election of Nicolás Maduro as head of state. The author believes that namely the historical retrospective coupled with the analysis of trends and processes that took place in the domestic political life of the country at the turn of the 21st century would give a clear idea of the basis on which the phenomenon of chavism characterized by autocracy and populism has developed. Later, during the transfer of power to the successor of Hugo Chavez, N. Maduro, a new trend appeared — a disregard for the law in sake of "preserving internal political stability" at the cost of ensuring the irremovability of power. By examining in detail some key political actions of the N. Maduro administration, the author attempts to substantiate the fact that, being the executive vice president, the successor of U. Chavez did not have the right to run for the presidency. By ignoring Constitution, the ruling circles of Venezuela demonstrated to the world their disrespect for the law, which entailed serious consequences not only for the current regime, but for the Venezuelan people as a whole.