Translated "Avante!" article by Luis Carapinha, Member of the International Department
In Venezuela, the right-wing celebrates its triumph in the legislative elections, in December 6th, last. President Maduro and the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP) readily recognized the announced outcome by the electoral authority, greeting the existence of the 1999 Bolivarian Constitution. An issue, that the viscerally endemic MUD ( democratic unity table), which condenses the Venezuelan reaction and the great servile bourgeoisie interests in Washington, did otherwise in the past. On the contrary. Its participation in the defeated state coup in 2002 is very documented, on how to permanently instigate the hatred campaigns against the popular power. As what occurred in the presidential elections in April, 2003, upon Chávez death, when the MUD did not recognize Nicolás Maduro’s victory and once again, used criminal violence, which cost the life of 50 Venezuelan. With the current election, 17 years upon Hugo Chávez’ first victory in the Venezuela presidential elections, in December 6th, 1998. Since then, amid this strange “dictatorship” in the Bolivar’s homeland, as for many years is rattled and attacked by the dominant media subversion, 20 national elections have taken place (among presidential, legislative, regional, local, constitutional and recall referendums, and for the constituting assembly).
The Bolivarian field was victorious in 18 out of 20 electoral acts. However, it would not be wise to ignore the current electoral slight, suffered by the Venezuela revolution, the very first loss in legislative elections. A setback, deserving a serious evaluation on the Bolivarian revolutionary forces. One underlines that the MUD votes greatly overcome the Venezuelan oligarchy and bourgeoisie’s social basis. On the other hand, part of the popular field, that supports the Bolivarian process was absent and missed voting. Masses have revealed a non-stop mobilizing availability for 16 years. Nevertheless, the polls ended up expressing the social wearing, in result of the continuous blackmail policy, destabilization and economic aggression – aggravated by the crude price decrease – the Caracas power being an imperialism target. But what demands the need of facing the serious problems, limitations and deficiencies at a home level.
The changes initiated with the Bolivarian Revolution, and its objectives, were always confronted with great difficulties and resistances. The deep distortions of a mono-economy, based on an oil rent is a central limitation, not easy to overcome, despite the used efforts. A unique path, crossed by force accumulation and building, and that during the process and under the impetuous performance of the historical excluded forces, nurtured the Bolivarian change political instruments…Therefore, the “civic-military” union was moulded, later the VUSP and the GPP, integrated by the VCP. In 1998, a few doubted the possibility of achieving the political, economic, social and cultural conquests in such a short time, within Venezuela., having produced deep grooves throughout the country and held an impulse towards the progressive change, that involved all the sub-continent. But, the Bolivarian Revolution is an unfinished process, with huge contradictions and challenges, namely regarding its organization, convergent action and mass and workers unity.
Upon the neo-liberal presidential victory in November 22nd last, in Argentina ( and the coup offensive retake in Brazil), the elections outcome on the 6th gives a greater strength to the imperialism general counter-offensive within Latin America. But for sure: the class struggle ought to intensify. It is a question of not only the progressive and revolutionary processes destiny, but the new architecture of regional cooperation, an inseparable part of the rearrangement forces process, which is to set up the world.