smolansky began his public appearances as one of the college students who led the protest against the kidnapping and murder of the faddoul brothers in caracas. subsequently, he became one of the leaders of the student movement that protested against the closure of radio caracas television (rctv) to claim the right to freedom of expression which would afterwards win the elections in 2007, in which was rejected venezuelan president hugo chávez' proposal to reform the constitution. in 2009, the elections known as constitutional referendum 2009 occurred in which smolansky actively participated from the student leadership in the months before the elections, in the various protests and student demonstrations in rejection of the presidential proposal and the election day with the deployment to serve as board members and witnesses.