Election Campaign Begins in Venezuela

Venezuelan people support campaign for the Constituent Assembly

Mariela Pérez Valenzuela

The election campaign of more than 6,000 candidates for deputies to the National Constituent Assembly (ANC) is underway in Venezuela and the polls will define, next July 30, who will be in charge of drafting the Magna Carta aimed at shielding the Bolivarian Revolution.

A few hours after far right-wing leader Leopoldo López was released from prison to end his nearly 14-year sentence for health reasons, thousands of Venezuelans gathered on Sunday in the states of the South American country.

The alternative measure to Lopez, considered the instigator of the 2014’s violent right-wing demonstrations- with 43 dead and hundreds injured – was adopted by the Supreme Court of Justice and abided by President Nicolas Maduro and other Chavist leaders, despite the Genocide character of the convict.

Although the right wing considers the alternative measure a victory resulting from the street pressure with cruel actions begun three months ago and that have caused 91 dead so far, the government and figures of the Bolivarian Revolution insist that Venezuela is a rule of law and the judicial decision must be respected.

While the conservative press, both local and foreign reproduce the news about Lopez and misrepresent the Venezuelan reality according to their interests, the revolutionary people and their leaders insist on founding the ANC as the tool that will give way to a dialogue of peace, consolidation of the project Bolivarian and the resurgence of the post-oil economy.

The political tension in Venezuela, and the threats of the right to prevent the elections, do not, however, stop the official plan to install the ANC of 547 deputies chosen by sectors and territories.

The opposition leaders of the Democratic Unity Roundtable (MUD), disrespecting the national government, called a plebiscite the next day to ask the population if it wants an ACN.

Analysts estimate that López’s house arrest sentence should have prompted a gesture of goodwill from the opposition, which had not happened until last weekend.

The holding of the elections is a risky step for the Bolivarian Revolution – as it could lose the majority of deputies in the future ACN – but, as Maduro said, is the only possible letter, when experts understand that the call to the national dialogue by the Authorities fall on stony ground.

Neither the presence of several former presidents in Venezuela, nor the calls of Pope Francis that should be heard by the opposition in a Catholic majority country, or regional organizations such as the Union of South American Nations (UNASUR) and the Community of Caribbean States (CARICOM) has moved the obsessed conservative leadership, who prefers cruelty and strength to try to overthrow the legitimate government.

According to the National Election Council, there are 6,000 people registered as candidates for the Constituent Assembly, who received the support of their communities to present themselves.

At a rally in Caracas, candidate Iris Varela, who said she did not agree with Lopez’s house arrest, but she respect the decision, argued that the ANC “will close the doors to terrorism and violence, as it will transform the justice system and will stop impunity.”

The former Minister for Prison Affairs, a position she waved to run as candidate said that “In the face of all the damage caused by violent groups promoted by the far right, our proposal is to impose justice and close the doors to fascism and betrayal.”

Former Foreign Minister Delcy Rodríguez also stated in her meeting that Venezuela is living a peace campaign and believed that the process of promotion of would-be candidates will be marked by the defense and preservation of sovereignty, the Venezuelan News Agency reported in the coverage of the events.

“We will do the great work of national reconciliation, no more deaths, no more violence. We hope, said the former Foreign Minister, that the opposition leadership of a step forward to abandon violence as a political strategy.”

The ANC election campaign will culminate on July 27. Almost 20 million citizens are summoned by the CNE to decide three days later at the polls the future of one of the countries with greatest natural resources in Latin America, always coveted by the United States and its puppet group of the region.

Translated by ESTI