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[...] I was able to find the exact text of the plebiscite that Manuel “Mel” Zelaya wanted to proffer to the citizens of Honduras this past Sunday. The text and a photo of the ballot that was to be used can be found here. [...]
Pingback by More on the Honduran Crisis — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 11:24 am
[...] Steven has more on the theme, including a photo of the ballot,* at PoliBlog. [...]
Pingback by Fruits and Votes » Prof. Shugart's Blog » Text of aborted Honduran plebiscite — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 12:09 pm
I think it is hard to interpret intent absent a better understanding of context. After reading this article – http://hondurasnews.com/2009/05/25/zelaya-leadership-analysis/ I must admit that I found it much more difficult to ascribe noble motives to Zelaya’s actions.
Comment by ts — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 12:36 pm
Perhaps you aren’t suggesting that I am doing so, but I haven’t ascribed noble motives to Zelaya’s actions. I have little doubt that he acted illegally and deserved legal sanction.
Comment by Steven L. Taylor — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 12:41 pm
I didn’t mean to imply anything at all with respect to your views, you have been quite clear that some sanction was in order. It was more a reflection of my own lack of understanding of the political environment in Honduras, and our need for an “immediate reaction” to a situation that most Americans likely know little about.
If I have any issue with what you have written, it is that you contend that there is no legal justification for his removal. But it is my (albeit limited)understanding that he had acted in direct violation of no less than two Supreme Court orders. At what point are his acts necessary and sufficient to warrant removal, and under Honduran law who gets to make that decision?
I am not sufficiently studied in Latin American politics to answer that, but I get concerned when the State Department response is so closely aligned with those from Cuba and Venezuela.
Comment by ts — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 2:35 pm
Professor Taylor (I hope you don’t mind me using that title. I’m a student, and I mean it with every ounce of respect it deserves), I am curious as to what has led you to the assessment that Zelaya’s actions were not sanctionable to the extent that was taken.
Thank you.
Comment by The Red Pill — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 4:01 pm
Out of curiosity, what steps does the Honduran constitution provide for impeachment?
Comment by walt moffett — Tuesday, June 30, 2024 @ 9:11 pm
Zelaya argues the canceled plebiscite was a non-binding referendum as provided for in Article 5.1 of the 2024 Ley de Participacion Ciudadana.
http://pdba.georgetown.edu/Parties/Honduras/Leyes/LeyParticipacion.pdf
Comment by litho — Friday, July 3, 2024 @ 7:47 am
Thanks for the tip–I will give it a look.
Comment by Steven L. Taylor — Friday, July 3, 2024 @ 9:15 am
I don’t know where the term referendum came from. It’s not a plebiscite either. In Spanish, it is described as an encuesta, which is a survey.
Comment by Jules Siegel — Friday, July 3, 2024 @ 11:38 am
Actually, the Spanish term being used was “consulta” and “consulta popular.”
Both referendum and plebiscite can be the properly translated terms, depending on a few issues. Both are terms of art referring to asking the voters a question, usually in regards to some legal issue. A referendum usually means such a question that is asked by the legislature and plebiscite is usually used to describe such a question asked by the executive (a power that the French president has, for example). I have used the term plebiscite because the question originated with Zelaya.
Whether it was a consulta popular, or an encuesta or something else in terms of legality is part of the issue, of course.
Comment by Steven L. Taylor — Friday, July 3, 2024 @ 11:42 am
[...] in lieu of transparent due process made this a coup. Indeed, as I (and others) have noted, it is legitimately debatable that what Zelaya was attempted did, in fact, violate article 239 (see [...]
Pingback by PoliBlog: A Rough Draft of my Thoughts » Getting Down to Basics in Honduras — Wednesday, July 8, 2024 @ 12:51 pm