In the aftermath of the strike, the government fired 18,000 PDVSA employees, 40% of the company's workforce, for "dereliction of duty" during the strike. Arrest warrants were issued for the presidents of Fedecamaras (Carlos Fernandez) and the CTV (Carlos Ortega). Involvement in government efforts to maintain food and gasoline distribution saw turning points in the careers of leading businessmen Ricardo Fernández Barrueco and Wilmer Ruperti respectively.
After the February 2003 collapse of the strike, the Coordinadora Democrática (CD) was much more willing to participate in the Organization of American States (OAS) "mesa" dialogue process which had been set up following the 2002 Venezuelan coup d'état attempt. The CD pushed for a binding recall referendum under Article 72 of the Constitution of Venezuela, which was ultimately agreed on 23 May 2003, and took place in August 2004.
The strike produced severe economic dislocation. The country's GDP fell 27% during the first four months of 2003, and it cost the oil industry $13.3bn. Open unemployment, which was running about 15% before and after the shutdown, reached 20.3% in March 2003; the volume of crude oil produced was 5% less in 2003 than the previous year; and the volume of refined oil products was 17% less. During the lockout Venezuela had, for the first time in the country's history, defaulted on its international petroleum supply contracts, unable to meet its commitments – including to its principal customer, the United States.
The informal network importing basic goods which the government developed during the strike went on to provide the basis for Mission Mercal. In addition the transformation of PDVSA had lasting political consequences, enabling the government to make much more direct use of PDVSA revenues: between 2004 and 2010 PDVSA contributed $61.4 billion to social development funds, with around half of this going directly to various Bolivarian Missions.
if hugo chavez is a liberal totalitarian funneling oil funds to his corrupt bureaucracy, why does the left love him so much? is offending your parents your only priority?
the value of the currency is 1/6th of what it was before chavez
it would be lulzworthy if it wasnt such another tragic example of liberalism
and first world liberals still think hes a good guy
admit it mustang: you've run out of good material.
admit it mustang: you've run out of good material.
show me any evidence that chavez's reign of terror has had any socially just outcome, its fallen behind on every measure
Lucille posted:note that those statistics are both from the Venezuelan government itself
yeah but how much can you really trust those guys? i hear theyve got a liberal totalitarian oil baron running the show!
Lucille posted:is offending your parents your only priority?
p. much yeah