Chavez allies win in Venezuela, opposition gains

[KurtFF8]

Source (http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081124/ap_on_re_la_am_ca/lt_venezuela_elections;_ylt=AtznmnY5I0SgWAdRfd6Of5 Ss0NUE)


By CHRISTOPHER TOOTHAKER, Associated Press Writer

CARACAS, Venezuela – President Hugo Chavez said Monday that allies' victories in state and local elections mean Venezuelans want him to press ahead with his socialist policies, but his opponents gained ground by winning the two largest states and two largest cities.

Chavez was jubilant at the results early Monday.

"The people are telling me: 'Chavez continue down the same road,'" said the president whose "21st century socialism" has seen him nationalize key industries and centralize authority while building an anti-U.S. alliance with leftist friends such as Cuba.

He also hinted at a renewed effort to make constitutional changes that could expand his powers and let him run for re-election indefinitely.

Voters last year rejected the president's proposed overhaul of the constitution, which would have abolished term limits that prevent him from running in 2012.

Pro-Chavez candidates held on to gubernatorial posts in 17 states in Sunday's vote, including Chavez's home state of Barinas, where his brother survived a tough race to succeed their father as governor.

But the oft-battered opposition also gained by winning five of the 23 states, including the two biggest — Miranda and Zulia — as well as mayoral races in the two largest cities, Caracas and Maracaibo.

The mixed result offered a rare situation in Venezuela's polarized politics: both sides said they were pleased.

Opposition candidate Antonio Ledezma defeated a close Chavez confidant to become the next mayor of Caracas, the capital, while the most prominent anti-Chavez politician, Manuel Rosales beat a Chavez ally in the second-largest city, Maracaibo.

"What's important is that the map of Venezuela has started to change," Rosales said.

The opposition also won governorships in Nueva Esparta, Carabobo and Tachira states.

Some voters in Caracas said they support Chavez on some issues but are dissatisfied with the city's rampant crime, trash and crumbling infrastructure.

Cesar Oliveros, a 48-year-old telecommunications technician, said he backed Ledezma because he saw him as the best option for improving the city, saying some of Chavez's allies "do things halfway" and don't do a good job as administrators.

Many Chavez supporters, however, followed the party line and voted for the president's chosen candidates.

His dominance was especially apparent in poorer, rural states, while the opposition seemed to fare best in the affluent cities.

Chavez party spokesman Alberto Muller played down the opposition's resurgence.

"We are the country's foremost political force," Muller said, flanked by other red-clad Chavez allies. "We don't see an opposition victory on a political map painted red."

In 2004 state elections, Chavez allies swept all but two of 23 governorships and a majority of local offices.

After a decade in office, the president still enjoys solid popularity, but last year's defeat of his attempt to scrap term limits energized the opposition, which has also sought to capitalize on complaints about unchecked corruption, deteriorating public services and inflation that has topped 35 percent in Caracas.

___

Associated Press writers Fabiola Sanchez and Rachel Jones contributed to this report.Before I read much of the article and just knew the results I figured that both parties would be quite disappointed with this result, which is the opposite of what the article claims: both the opposition and the PSUV are happy with this result.

This certainly does demonstrate that the people of Venezuela are ready to continue down the path to socialism, the problem is that Chavez's influence over the PSUV is making it more and more reformist, which is why I'm glad that the Communist Party has decided to remain independent to help put pressure on Chavez to actually "build socialism".

Interesting times ahead for Venezuela though.

(This was the only news source on the results I could find as of right now, It'd be interesting to see how the Communist Party performed)

[cyu]

More stories at http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/

[Enragé]

He also hinted at a renewed effort to make constitutional changes that could expand his powers and let him run for re-election indefinitely

idiot, bastard, and bourgeois little shit all rolled into one.

but hey, still a fuckload better than the rightwing opposition :) Good they hold on to most of what they already had

[Herman]

idiot, bastard, and bourgeois little shit all rolled into one.By "expand his powers", it's referring to states of emergencies. And by indefinite re-election, it means that he'll be able to be a candidate for president an unlimited amount of times, same as many places in the world, including Europe. It would be undemocratic not to allow someone to run as many times as he/she wants to office.

This is a victory of the PSUV. Of course, much of the Western media (including El Pais) has tried to make it seem as if the opposition has done extremely well (which they haven't, in fact they've lost 300,000 votes since the constitutional referendum). For example, El Pais gave extensive news coverage to one of the oppositionist candidate winners (http://www.elpais.com/articulo/internacional/joven/politico/derroto/chavismo/Miranda/elpepuint/20081124elpepuint_15/Tes), whereas they've given none to any of the Patriotic Alliance candidates. Funny how winning a huge majority of states (17 out 22) doesn't count as some sort of exceptional result.

[Enragé]

By "expand his powers", it's referring to states of emergencies

So? Hitler consolidated his power by enacting a state of emergency after the reichstag burnt down and then smashing all opposition


And by indefinite re-election, it means that he'll be able to be a candidate for president an unlimited amount of times, same as many places in the world, including Europe. It would be undemocratic not to allow someone to run as many times as he/she wants to office

Undemocratic if you think of democracy in a bourgeois way. It doesn't matter who gets the nametag "El Presidente" if the people are truly in control, if the president just represents the wishes of the population. If someone desperately wants to be president for a very long time, its indicative of his authoritarian impulses. Also, if someone has alot of power for an extended period of time narcissistic tendencies develop in his character (and well, chavez is already a narcissist)

[Elway]

If someone desperately wants to be president for a very long time, its indicative of his authoritarian impulses. Also, if someone has alot of power for an extended period of time narcissistic tendencies develop in his character (and well, chavez is already a narcissist)

Fanfuckingtastic Flawless Observation. One of the best measurements for whether one supports socialism and a future of direct democracy is they don't believe the whole show is dependant upon them for the next 30 years. It's egomaniacal, self serving interests. And you can't compare it with the parlementary system in most of Europe, where the PARTY, not the individual, is controlling over the platform.

If Chavez IS Socialism, Venezuela's in a lot of trouble. Chavez should work for the ideal that The People of Venezuela IS Socialism.

[KurtFF8]

Does anyone know how well PCV did where they ran independent candidates?

[chebol]

PSUV = 6 million votes (increase 1.3 million since referendum) [results below]
PSUV = in need of a lot of work to create a real cadre organisation not dependent upon Chavez and subject to the bolibureaucracy (Right-wing chavistas)
Opposition = 4 million votes (down several hundred thousand from referendum)
Results = correction of real balance of forces after Opposition boycotted last elections
65% turnout = record
PPT = wiped out electorally (sniff, sniff)
PCV = never had electoral presence worth noting. Still doesn't.
NewKindOfSoldier = prissy, immature sectarian, with no comprehension of the dynamic of the revolution, and should watch his mouth when talking about revolutionaries who have done more in 10 years than he is likely to achieve in his life.

Be critical? Sure. But this
idiot, bastard, and bourgeois little shit all rolled into one. is about as out of line and idiotic as the mindless fucks from Bandera Roja who shoot workers in the name of toppling the "Chavez dictatorship".


Estado Anzoátegui
Tarek William Saab 55.06%
Gustavo Marcano 40.50%

Estado Apure
Jesús Aguilarte 56.48%
Miriam de Montilla 26.54%

Estado Aragua
Rafael Isea 58.56%
Henry Rosales 40.17%

Estado Barinas
Adán Chávez 49.63%
Julio Cesar Reyes 44.58%

Estado Bolívar
Francisco Rangel 46.97%
Andrés Velásquez 30.47%

Estado Guárico
Lenny Manuitt 33.68%
Willian Lara 52.08%

Estado Mérida
Marcos Díaz 54.62%
Williams Dávila 45.11%

Estado Miranda
Henrique Capriles Radonsky 52.56 %
Diosdado Cabello 36.74%

Estado Sucre
Enrique Maestre 56.08%
Eduardo Morales 42.62%

Estado Vargas
Jorge García 61.56%
Roberto Smith 32.18%

Estado Zulia
Gian Carlo Di Martino 45.02%
Pablo Pérez 53.59%

Municipio Libertador - Caracas
Iván Stalin González 41.92%
Jorge Rodríguez 53.05%

Falcón
Miriam de Montilla: 55.27 %
Gregorio Segundo: 44.49%

Monagas
Jose Briceño 64.79%
Domingo Urbina 15.41 %

Estado Nueva Esparta
Morel Rodríguez: 57,64
William Fariñas: 41,69%

Portuguesa
Wilmar Castro Soteldo 57%
Jovito Villegas 27.28%

Trujillo
Hugo Cesar Cabezas 59.47%
Henrique Catalán 27%

Lara
Henry Falcon 71%

Distrito Capital
Antonio Ledezma 52.45%
Aristóbulo Istúriz 44.92%

Municipio Libertador - Caracas
Jorge Rodríguez 53.05%
Iván Stalin González 41.92%

Tachira
Cesar Perez Vivas 49.54%
Leonardo Salcedo 48.04%

Carabobo
Henrique Salas Feo 47.72%
Mario Silva 44 .29%
Luis Acosta (outgoing governor, running as independent after being expelled from the PSUV) 6.5%.

More: http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3983
http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3979 (http://www.venezuelanalysis.com/news/3979)

[Tatarin]

So? Hitler consolidated his power by enacting a state of emergency after the reichstag burnt down and then smashing all opposition

You're suggesting that Chavez has an evil plan to eliminate an ethnic group within Venezuela?


If someone desperately wants to be president for a very long time, its indicative of his authoritarian impulses. Also, if someone has alot of power for an extended period of time narcissistic tendencies develop in his character (and well, chavez is already a narcissist)

Then you've probably not heard of Tage Erlander, who was a social democrat in Sweden and prime minister from 1946 to 1969. Or what about Goran Persson, prime minister from 1996 to 2006, also a social democrat. I don't see any difference in Chavez, except perhaps his socialist rethoric.

[Herman]

So? Hitler consolidated his power by enacting a state of emergency after the reichstag burnt down and then smashing all opposition

Are you comparing Hitler with Chavez? Are you an idiot?

States of emergency are not called upon lightly. Lenin had to do it, Trotsky had to do it... it's a normal thing among most countries. This will be the case even in a socialist society. Should a state of emergency be called, society will have to reorganize itself to meet the needs of such an emergency, and it will be harsh for everyone.


Undemocratic if you think of democracy in a bourgeois way. It doesn't matter who gets the nametag "El Presidente" if the people are truly in control, if the president just represents the wishes of the population. If someone desperately wants to be president for a very long time, its indicative of his authoritarian impulses. Also, if someone has alot of power for an extended period of time narcissistic tendencies develop in his character (and well, chavez is already a narcissist)

No, it's not undemocratic in a "bourgeois" way. Revleft uses that same system you're calling "bourgeois" in fact. People can choose the same candidate over and over and over again (in fact, we've chosen the same candidates many times because they've done a decent job). It's pretty logical to assume that everyone should have the freedom to choose whomever they want, even if it's the same place. That's democracy. Term limits hinder democratic practice.

[BobKKKindle$]

chebol makes an excellent point - the opposition did boycott the last election so it would be silly not to expect the opposition to have made some gains in these elections given that they literally had nothing to lose, and so the gains they have made so not signify any kind of defeat for Chavez, but simply a more accurate reflection of what the balance of power in Venezuela has always been like - mass support for a radical government with small pockets of resistance from the bourgeoisie and people who are not satisfied with how Chavez has dealt with certain problems. As for the issue of democracy and elections, any leader should be allowed to run for election as many times as they want and there is simply no reason to limit the number of terms a president can hold office, this is inconsistent with democracy and the people should not be deprived of the right to elect the presidency they support. This is not the same as allowing Chavez to attain hegemonic power because in addition to facing the national electorate he also has to convince people inside the PSUV that he is the best candidate for the party. Chavez is an incredibly charismatic individual, and so although the Bolivarian Revolution has always been a process of popular participation and struggle, it's clear why he's the right person to take up the role of president.

Viva Chavez!

[Herman]

Of course, none of us claim that Chavez is the saviour and will solve everyone's problems. The bolivarian revolution has many problems, such as the famous boliburguesia, and Venezuela in general, such as the lack of industrial infrastructure.

Critical support is the key.

[Wanted Man]

So? Hitler consolidated his power by enacting a state of emergency after the reichstag burnt down and then smashing all opposition
HITLER!!!

Anyway, it's an electoral win for reformism, which is better than the opposition, who want to create a counter-revolution before there has even been a real revolution, to nip any kind of revolutionary sentiment in the bud.

There are a lot of things to criticise Chávez for, but to single out his adversity to term limits shows a lot of attachment to bourgeois ideology. One user was going on about "narcissistic leaders" ruining the country, as if the figurehead is the most important part of it. Of course, the same goes for those people who keep insisting on defending Chávez in everything, and fully agree with the idea of him being "president for life", just because he's an important figurehead of the "Bolivarian Revolution".

The term limits are not a problem in and of themselves. It can be a part of the problem if Venezuela never gets beyond reformism, if the PSUV carries out the interests of the bourgeoisie on a greater level, and if the government allows itself to be dominated by the right-wing Chavistas. Then you'd see an increasing right-wing turn, all figureheaded by a long-term elected president who makes increasingly shrill sounding appeals to socialism. That's the real danger, the non-existence of term limits just add a dimension to this.

[Yehuda Stern]

Newsflash to all the Chavistas - if you were way ahead of your opponent, and one day you find out he narrowed the distance significantly, it means you're losing ground. And the argument that the opposition only gained because it boycotted the last elections is ludicrous - as Chavez supporters were eager to point out, the opposition boycotted the last elections because it knew its gains would be minuscule.

As for term limits, revolutionaries should certainly oppose them - however, they should oppose them for all positions, not just the presidency. Chavez doesn't want that. He wants to be able to rule indefinitely, changing those below him, a classic Bonapartist move.

Chavez is no better or worse than the opposition, even though his base is certainly more likely to be open to revolutionary ideas than that of the opposition. But Chavez himself serves to tire and demoralize the workers who support him, and thus prepares a dictatorial regime either of his own or of the right-wing opposition. Revolutionaries should work among the PSUV's base but never give the illusion that Chavez could bring about socialism.

[Louis Pio]

even though his base is certainly more likely to be open to revolutionary ideas than that of the opposition.

No shit sherlock, how do you propose getting those ideas into that movement, just out of curiousity?

Btw actually the opposition didn't gain in terms of number of votes.

[BobKKKindle$]

Chavez doesn't want that. He wants to be able to rule indefinitely, changing those below him, a classic Bonapartist move.

This is incorrect; the Chavez government has attempted to shift the center of political power away from the office of the presidency and the upper reaches of the bureaucracy, and towards local communities, by encouraging people to set up their own councils which operate at a local level and allow the community to debate issues of shared concern and decide on how the revenue allocated by the central government should be used to address local problems. This process has taken place alongside the extension of democratic control to workplaces and an increase in the number of radical media outlets which are being used to challenge the information monopoly of the RCTV and other bourgeois corporations which have consistently tried to undermine the Bolivarian movement by obscuring the government's successes and giving open support to the coup attempt in 2002. This is not to say that there is not a bureaucracy within the Bolivarian movement or that capitalism has already been defeated in Venezuela, but the Chavez government is progressive and Chavez has not done anything to suggest that he is opposed to the revolutionary transformation of Venezuelan society.

[Herman]

Newsflash to all the Chavistas - if you were way ahead of your opponent, and one day you find out he narrowed the distance significantly, it means you're losing ground.

Wrong, wrong and wrong again. They gained less votes than in the constitutional referendum, and the same amount of votes in the last presidential elections. In terms of territory, they gained no more nor less. In fact, they lost 4 states to the PSUV.

Do some research before you write.

[Tatarin]

It is quite funny to read about it in the media. Before, a liberal newspaper wrote about the "communist countries" in Latin America, "such as Cuba and Venezuela". Huh!? Or today's Metro (global free newspaper), "Opposition gains support" - and that "Chavez dominance of Venezuelan society is now not as big as before"! Really - "dominance over Venezuelan society" is what it said. :lol:

[Coggeh]

This is incorrect; the Chavez government has attempted to shift the center of political power away from the office of the presidency and the upper reaches of the bureaucracy, and towards local communities, by encouraging people to set up their own councils which operate at a local level and allow the community to debate issues of shared concern and decide on how the revenue allocated by the central government should be used to address local problems. This process has taken place alongside the extension of democratic control to workplaces and an increase in the number of radical media outlets which are being used to challenge the information monopoly of the RCTV and other bourgeois corporations which have consistently tried to undermine the Bolivarian movement by obscuring the government's successes and giving open support to the coup attempt in 2002. This is not to say that there is not a bureaucracy within the Bolivarian movement or that capitalism has already been defeated in Venezuela, but the Chavez government is progressive and Chavez has not done anything to suggest that he is opposed to the revolutionary transformation of Venezuelan society.
Of course he has , he has backed down on numerous occasions to challenge capitalist interests in the country , he would rather make weapons deals with Russia than to feed his own people and he is more concerned with extending his time in office than actually carrying out what he never shuts up about "we must fight imperialism... and bring socialism to Venezuela" .. still waiting on that Hugo :glare:. He's economically progressive and thats about as good as he'll ever be .

[BobKKKindle$]

still waiting on that HugoThe fact that you feel capable of making this kind of statement shows how politically naive and uninformed you are. In the past, whenever a President of a Latin American country had tried to completely overthrow the bourgeoisie (including the expropriation of foreign investments) and abolish the capitalist system they have immediately faced economic sanctions and in several cases have been violently overthrown by the CIA in cooperation with reactionary forces within the country such as the upper reaches of the military apparatus. This is exactly what happened in Chile in 1973, as President Allende was murdered by Augusto Pinochet and thereafter Chile was forced to endure more than a decade of serious human rights violations and increasing economic inequality. Venezuela is still one of the only countries in Latin America that is fully committed to radical social reform and so if the government attempted to overthrow capitalism they would not be able to rely on the support of other states and the government would rapidly be overthrown, resulting in the elimination of the gains that have been made so far and a return to the absolute rule of the bourgeoisie. The events of 2002 showed that despite his popularity Chavez is still vulnerable to coups from the bourgeois elite. Once this is grasped, we can begin to understand what the movement has not been moving as fast as we want it to - the influence of the bureaucracy is an additional factor and by encouraging a bottom-up process of political innovation and participation Chavez aims to overcome the obstacles posed by the bureaucracy, both within the PSUV and the state apparatus. As for the issue of whether the government has limited itself to economic reforms, this is objectively false, as the constitution passed in 1999 aims to improve the position of women in Venezuelan society; in addition to guaranteeing full equality between men and women in employment, it is the only Constitution in Latin America that that recognizes housework as an economically productive activity, thus entitling housewives to social security benefits (Article 88) and drawing attention to importance of housework as a sphere of human activity, in opposition to the capitalist conception of value which disregards any activity which does not directly result in revenue.

[Yehuda Stern]

No shit sherlock, how do you propose getting those ideas into that movement, just out of curiousity?

How do I propose to do it? By participating in workers' actions and trade unions. You know, the usual way, not the bury-yourself-indefinitely-in-a-clearly-bourgeois-party way.


This is incorrect; the Chavez government has attempted to shift the center of political power away from the office of the presidency and the upper reaches of the bureaucracy, and towards local communities

This is actually not the case at all. It is actually that the Chavez regime has set up phony organizations claiming to stand up for community power in order to preempt groups that would genuinely stand up for that. That is another move that many Bonapartists have taken and its ridiculous to take it as some sort of sign of workers' power.


Do some research before you write.

I did - the opposition has gained significantly in this election. Last time they only won in 2 states, this time they won in 5 of the most populous states. There are also 2 more states in which I think the opposition won, but I haven't seen any information on that yet.

Of course, this is all meaningless to someone who takes his info from Alo Presidente.


The fact that you feel capable of making this kind of statement shows how politically naive and uninformed you are. In the past, whenever a President of a Latin American country had tried to completely overthrow the bourgeoisie (including the expropriation of foreign investments) and abolish the capitalist system they have immediately faced economic sanctions and in several cases have been violently overthrown by the CIA in cooperation with reactionary forces within the country such as the upper reaches of the military apparatus.

This just shameless apologetics. First, no Latin American president has ever tried to overthrow the bourgeoisie - in fact most counterrevolutions stemmed from populist leaders' insistence on leaving the ruling class intact, a move which enabled it to overthrow them brutally. Second, if the threat of imperialist sanctions and attacks were an argument against socialist revolution, then there could never be any socialist revolution anywhere. But then again that is the assumption of most Chavez suppoters anyway.

[Coggeh]

The fact that you feel capable of making this kind of statement shows how politically naive and uninformed you are. In the past, whenever a President of a Latin American country had tried to completely overthrow the bourgeoisie (including the expropriation of foreign investments) and abolish the capitalist system they have immediately faced economic sanctions and in several cases have been violently overthrown by the CIA in cooperation with reactionary forces within the country such as the upper reaches of the military apparatus. This is exactly what happened in Chile in 1973, as President Allende was murdered by Augusto Pinochet and thereafter Chile was forced to endure more than a decade of serious human rights violations and increasing economic inequality. Venezuela is still one of the only countries in Latin America that is fully committed to radical social reform and so if the government attempted to overthrow capitalism they would not be able to rely on the support of other states and the government would rapidly be overthrown, resulting in the elimination of the gains that have been made so far and a return to the absolute rule of the bourgeoisie. The events of 2002 showed that despite his popularity Chavez is still vulnerable to coups from the bourgeois elite. Once this is grasped, we can begin to understand what the movement has not been moving as fast as we want it to - the influence of the bureaucracy is an additional factor and by encouraging a bottom-up process of political innovation and participation Chavez aims to overcome the obstacles posed by the bureaucracy, both within the PSUV and the state apparatus. As for the issue of whether the government has limited itself to economic reforms, this is objectively false, as the constitution passed in 1999 aims to improve the position of women in Venezuelan society; in addition to guaranteeing full equality between men and women in employment, it is the only Constitution in Latin America that that recognizes housework as an economically productive activity, thus entitling housewives to social security benefits (Article 88) and drawing attention to importance of housework as a sphere of human activity, in opposition to the capitalist conception of value which disregards any activity which does not directly result in revenue.


the influence of the bureaucracy is an additional factor and by encouraging a bottom-up process of political innovation and participation Chavez aims to overcome the obstacles posed by the bureaucracy, both within the PSUV and the state apparatus Chavez is part of the obstacles that must be overcome . The grassroots orgs on the ground in Venezuela and in Bolivia are far more radical than Chavez or Morales.

Are you serious in that history lesson that you think Chavez must play it cool for now and not do much to piss off the US ? That was the mistake in Guatemala and in Chile when the leaders weren't radical enough the government must arm the people in order to defend the revolution . you don't sit back and become wait around for revolutions to pop up elsewhere .


it is the only Constitution in Latin America that that recognizes housework as an economically productive activity, thus entitling housewives to social security benefits (Article 88) This is progressive but thats as far as he'll ever go . After his defeat in the last referendum (down to both scare mongering on the right and the fact that he threw in loads of stupid legislation about him being able to get reelected over and over which only fueled the flames for the right, its as if he thinks if he's out of office than their will be no movement) he is now afraid to properly challenge the ruling classes and is turning to imperialist Russia for military aid , a pragmatic and reactionary tactic .

[Herman]

I did - the opposition has gained significantly in this election. Last time they only won in 2 states, this time they won in 5 of the most populous states. There are also 2 more states in which I think the opposition won, but I haven't seen any information on that yet.

They haven't gained any ground. 4,000,000 votes. Same as always.


Of course, this is all meaningless to someone who takes his info from Alo Presidente.

As meaningless as the fact that you make wild and untrue assumptions about me.

[Q]

This is another background article on the subject: Venezuela, Regional elections (http://socialistworld.net/eng/2008/11/29veneza.html).

Particularly this bit interested me:

What are the perspectives for the next period?

In 2008, the global financial crisis has intensified, and although at the beginning President Chavez had declared that it would not affect him, in recent weeks he has corrected himself and has called on the population to support his politics of austerity for the next year. The fall of the price of oil during the last few months has him worried, as more than 60% of the national budget depends on oil. In Venezuela, out of every $100 of income into the country, $90 is from oil, which in large parts served to finance public expenditures in different social programmes. At the same time, 60% of this income has been spent on importing food to meet internal demand because of the incapacity of the national agricultural industry to satisfy internal consumption.

This situation without a doubt will be closely considered by the government, and it will pressure and oblige it to make cuts which could be used by the opposition to intensify its attacks and continue highlighting the inability of the revolution to solve the basic problems of the people. However, the prospects for 2009 will not be easy for any reformist political tendency that tries to manipulate the masses for its own interests. Because in this acute situation, the struggles will intensify and the protests of the social sectors for legitimate demands will be greater, affecting the government as much as it will the opposition. It is possible that both sides will try to blame the other, the opposition saying that the government is not giving resources to develop social areas and the government blaming the financial crisis for the possible cuts.

Of course, this is an anaysis of the "overcritical" CWI. What do pro-Chavez comrades think of these developments?

[LOLseph Stalin]

I really don't know much about Chavez. Is he Communist, Socialist, Social Democrat, what? I'm highly confused. At least I know he's leftist though.

[Q]

I really don't know much about Chavez. Is he Communist, Socialist, Social Democrat, what? I'm highly confused. At least I know he's leftist though.

The opinions on him are divided among the left. I think he's a mere leftwing populist with a lot of socialist rethoric.

[Herman]

I really don't know much about Chavez. Is he Communist, Socialist, Social Democrat, what? I'm highly confused. At least I know he's leftist though.

He's a socialist with some nationalist rhetoric, although he has expressed his agreement with ideas like "la patria grande".

[chebol]

Stop opposition attacks in Venezuela! Stop US interference!

A statement from the Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network (http://venezuelasolidarity.org/?q=node/7686)
November 28, 2008
In the aftermath of the November 23 regional elections, Venezuela’s right-wing opposition has launched, in the states it won, an all-out assault on grassroots community organisations.

President Hugo Chavez and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) won a clear mandate in the elections for the project to build socialism of the 21st century: the PSUV won 17 states with 5,730,774 votes nationwide, compared to the opposition’s 3,948,912 votes. The opposition’s vote was concentrated in key strategic areas, giving them the governorships of five states and the mayor of Greater Caracas.

In the days following the elections, grassroots activists in Caracas, Miranda and Tachira have reported that the public community health clinics (part of Barrio Adentro, the free universal healthcare program), communal councils and other centres where social programs operate are being shut down or attacked by opposition party, despite the public assurances of at least one right-wing govenor-elect that the legal frameworks would be respected.

Venezuelan radio station YKVE Mundial reported on November 25 that “people sent by the new authorities of the governorship of Miranda arrived in the early hours of the morning in Baruta, to an Integral Diagnostic Centre [public health clinics], where they shut down a House of Popular Power” where the local grassroots communal councils operate. Cleira Ruiz, local coordinator of Mission Ribas in Mariche, reported that people from the far-right Justice First party harassed the centre, and tried to remove the people inside and take the keys.

Gerson Rivas, a representative of Fundacommunal (communal bank) in the municipality of Guaicaipuro in the state of Miranda, reported that Cuban doctors were being intimidated by Justice First supporters, who were threatening to kick them out of the Barrio Adentro modules.

William Castillo, vice-president of Venezolana de Televisión, reported that groups have also tried to attack the Caracas office of alternative television channel Avila TV.

More disturbingly, three election candidates, all activists in Venezuela's national trade union peak body, the UNT, were brutally murdered two days after the elections.

From the state of Tachira, won by the right wing, Ana Rivero reported to YVKE Mundial that, although the new governor, Cesar Perez, had not yet assumed his position, “functionaries” had ordered coordinators of the missions to leave the state schools where the missions operate, and that this order is being applied across the whole state. She said that classes in Mission Ribas in the school Timoteo Chacón de Santa Ana, in the municipality of Cordoba, where she studies, have been suspended until they can find another location.

María Malpica, the PSUV mayor-elect in Colon municipality in Zulia, reported that riots were being promoted by the opposition with the aim of preventing her from taking office, and that eight people were injured in the clashes.

YKVE Mundial reported that street battles broke out in Los Teques, the capital of Miranda, on November 26. Carmen Bermúdez, who witnessed the incident, told YKVE Mundial that the violence erupted when right-wing governor-elect Capriles Radonski arrived in Plaza Bolivar in Los Teques accompanied by men on motorbikes and police from the municipalities of Rosales and Carrizal. The police and Capriles’ private thugs violently attacked people congregated in the plaza for the inauguration of the new PSUV mayor of Los Teques, Alirio Mendoza.

As well, workers in the Integral Diagnostic Centre in Los Dos Caminos in Sucre municipality reported on November 27 that members of Justice First have threatened to burn down the building and are circulating a petition to remove the Cuban doctors. Similar incidents have been reported in Carabobo. In the state of Barinas, which was won by the PSUV, opposition groups have launched violent attacks, refusing to accept the outcome of the vote.

In 2002 the Venezuelan opposition, backed by the United States, launched a military coup against the democratically elected Chavez government. However, the coup was defeated within 48 hours by a mass uprising of workers and the poor, together with rank-and-file soldiers.

In Venezuela’s Bolivarian revolution, major social gains for the poor and working people have been won by the grassroots movements together with the pro-people polices promoted by Chavez. Extensive education programs have eradicated illiteracy and the introduction of universal healthcare has meant that many poor Venezuelans have been able to visit a doctor for the first time. Under wealth redistribution policies factories have been nationalised and put under workers’ control, and unused land has been distributed to peasants.

The US government has given millions of dollars to Venezuela’s opposition groups in an effort to roll back the democratic revolution in Venezuela. These latest attacks are part of a broader strategy to get rid of Chavez and reassert imperialist control of the nation.

Responding to the opposition attacks, Jesse Chacon, the PSUV candidate for Sucre, told VTV on November 25 that, “Any attempt to roll back what the people have conquered is going to generate conflict, because the people are organised … The people will not allow it!" In a televised speech on November 27, Chavez also responded, stating that the national government and the armed forces, together with the people, would act to defend the missions and social services.

The minister for justice has also made public statements to clarify the obligations and role within the state of the governors-elect, including that they must not abuse the power invested in them. El Aissami specifically reminded the newest governors-elect of the importance of not abusing police powers.

The Australia-Venezuela Solidarity Network stands in solidarity with President Chavez and the grassroots Bolivarian movement against the right wing’s latest attacks. We call for the democratic process in Venezuela to be respected by the new oppostion governors, and for an end to all United States interference in Venezuela’s sovereign affairs.

Stop the opposition attacks in Venezuela!
Stop US intervention in Venezuela!
http://venezuelasolidarity.org