What Bolívar left undone, is still undone today.
Bolívar has things yet to do in America.
(translation by your Guide)
This statement by José Martí, Cuban statesman, poet, and journalist (1853-1895) who devoted his life to ending colonialism in Cuba and other Latin America countries, still resounds today. Considered one of the great writers of the Hispanic world, José Martí's thoughts have influenced many of the political leaders who followed him.
Martí believed that freedom and justice should be the cornerstones of any government, which sounds at odds with Simón Bolívar's ideas how a government should be run. Bolívar's republicanism was based on his ideals, and his interpretation of the ancient republic of Rome and contemporary Anglo-French political thought.
In essence, these are the main tenets:
- Order as most important necessity.
- Tricameral legislature with varied and broad powers composed of
- A hereditary and professional Senate.
- A body of Censors composing the state's "moral authority".
- A popularly elected legislative assembly.
- A life-term executive supported by a strong, active cabinet or ministers.
- A judicial system stripped of legislative powers.
- A representative electoral system.
- Military autonomy.
Biblioteca Virtual de Simón Bolívar
The growth of the Bolivaran Republic in Latin American politics today is based on these principles of Simón Bolívar and Martí's statement. With the election of Hugo Chavez as president of Venezuela, and the transition of the country to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, many of Bolivar's principles are translated into today's politics.
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Using Bolívar's promise of Unidos seremos invencibles (united, we will be invincible),
"President Chávez and his followers never hid their revolutionary intention of replacing traditional
Venezuelan leaders and writing up new rules of the game that would increase
participation, reduce corruption, promote social justice, inject greater efficiency
and transparency into governmental processes and giver greater protection to human
rights."
The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela
Once in power, President Chavez turned his attention to a new constitution, where Article 1 reads:
"The Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela is irrevocably free and independent
and supports its moral patrimony and liberty values, equality, justice and
international peace, according to the doctrine of Simon Bolivar, the Libertador.
Independence, liberty, sovereignty, immunity, territorial integrity and national
self-determination are mandatory rights." (Asamblea Nacional Constituyente,
Constitución Bolivarina de Venezuela, 1999)
Republica Bolivariana de Venezuela
Whether the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela will be successful is still undetermined. But one thing is sure: the development under the new constitution and the results are under careful scrutiny. And some opposition.
