Columbia International Affairs Online: Working Papers

CIAO DATE: 08/2009

La Revocatoria de Mandato: Lecciones a Partir de la Experiencia Venezolana

June 2009

The Helen Kellogg Institute for International Studies

Abstract

This paper examines four related aspects of the recall of elected officials as defined and used in Venezuela: 1) The context in which the recall emerged; 2) the activation of the presidential recall throughout 2003 and 2004, which concluded with the recall referendum of August 15, 2004; 3) the legal and substantive aspects of the recall; 4) the assessment of the use of the recall. The purpose of the paper is to evaluate the advantages and disadvantages of this instrument of direct democracy from the Venezuelan experience.