We must speak the truth: therein lies our strength, and the masses, the people, the multitude will decide in actual practice, after the struggle, whether we have strength. VI Lenin, 1905
Hugo Chavez will live on as one of the most outstanding foes of US imperialism in our time. His defiance of successive US governments was truly remarkable. Situated in the US backyard, Venezuela-- under Chavez’s leadership-- brought joy and admiration to millions throughout the world and inspired others in Central and South America to mount their own response to US domination. Faced with foreign intervention, coup attempts, and a vicious domestic opposition, Chavismo will be honored for rebelling against US arrogance and aggression long after his death.
However, Chavismo was not socialism, nor did it construct a path to socialism. Chavez brought a Christian love and respect to the poor and disadvantaged and offered a dash of utopian “socialism” gleaned from Western leftist “advisors.” The movement was multiclass, with the working class playing no special role. The transformation of the state into a peoples’ democracy was never projected. In short, a radical transformation was not and is not secured against the maneuvers of the domestic bourgeoisie and foreign intervention.
Consequently, Venezuela’s path is very susceptible to detours, reversals, and backsliding, especially in the face of potent domestic reaction and foreign intervention. History has shown that mobilization and empowering of the working class is the most important barrier that a government can erect against the machinations of hostile class forces. The ready cooperation of the parties of the most militant workers-- the Communists-- is essential to this effort.
Yet, the Maduro government not only rejected the collaboration of the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), but effectively banned the PCV and obstructed its electoral participation. This unprincipled attack on the PCV is well documented; no one among the international solidarity community has disputed its veracity.
Yet those who know of the complicity of the Venezuelan Supreme Court in enforcing the ban choose to ignore the Court’s failure. They choose to look away from the denial of any hint of due process or transparency in the Court’s slavish toadying to the Maduro government.
It speaks poorly of a left that indignantly rallies against comparable politically tainted decisions of the highest courts in their own lands.
The recent Venezuelan election is the object of intense contention. Ultimately, the Venezuelan people will resolve the question of its legitimacy, as they, and they alone, must do.
Does it help Venezuelans find the truth for some to pretend that the most recent electoral process measured up to the past practices applauded by a number of recognized international observers? One prominent left commentator appealed to the Venezuelan Constitution to sheepishly note that the Constitution did not mandate that the electoral council respect those past practices-- hardly, a ringing defense of the results that he, and many others, stoutly maintain.
Of course, it is scandalous that the Maduro government marked “Paid” on the election results through the same compromised Supreme Court that attempted to arbitrarily shape the outcome beforehand by denying ballot status to some parties, including to the Communist Party.
To be sure, the Venezuelan people will overcome this blemish on the legacy of Hugo Chavez and return to a political process that will welcome the most ardent champions of working people, the Communists.
Greg Godels
zzsblogml@gmail.com
9 comments:
Good one, Greg. And building a movement for communism applies to us here in the US as well. There's no way elections can change the class in power whether in VZ or anywhere. Harris, Trump, Maduro, and Xi all represent capitalism; none deserves our support. The racism, climate degradation, and repression that people fear from Trump already exists for billions around the world. Liberals like the Democrats just conceal their bad practices more skillfully. The enemy of my enemy whether it's China or VZ or Iran is not a friend of workers.
It would be wiser to heed the views of Cuba on the Venezuelan election, and of the ALBA countries. What you have with the Venezuelan CP is an ultra-leftist party, just like some Trotskyist one. To go follow a CP when they are hijacked by Trotskyists is a foolish thing to do.
It is strange to see no mention from yourself nor Marxism Leninism Today that the Figuero PCV endorsed as its candidate Enrique Marquez, who wanted to privatize water and electricity, hates Cuba, and was once a key ally of Guaido in the last despicable attempt by imperialism to impose rule on the Venezuelan people. The PCV may have a point that signing deals with Chevron is bad and against the interests of Venezuelans, but what does it say of the PCV to align with Enrique Marquez, who helped hand over CITGO, a far more valuable entity, directly to US imperialism?
This was enough for longtime central committee member of the PCV Carolus Wimmer, who MLToday people probably even know personally, to quit and make a public statement that the Figuero PCV was now conspiring with the ultra-right. Failing to mention this makes sense for many CPs who (probably rightfully) signalled their support for the PCV in its court fight, and now find themselves sheepishly having to explain to their membership why this PCV has run from their previous campaign of demanding freedom for Carlos the Jackal to supporting an ultra-right wing presidential candidate and crying that actually, the even more right wing candidate and death squad director candidate won. I don't see any reason, however, that given you're not a member of one of these IMCWP parties nor are the ML Today crew (as far as I know), not to mention these very salient details.
In light of the PCV Figueroa's behavior many in Venezuela are asking what loss would it be if this PCV eventually withered and died like the Communist Party of Nicaragua?
Interestingly, the two Anonymous comments never touch on the issue raised in the original article: the attempt by the Maduro government to discredit the Venezuelan Communist Party and to stifle its participation in the recent election. Instead, they devote the opportunity to discuss the question to an attack on the PCV and, with Anonymous II, Marxism-Leninism Today. The "salient features" referenced are neither salient or relevant to the issue of whether the Maduro government can deny the Communist Party or any other party the ability to retain its own legacy and to participate openly in elections.
Maybe these issues could be debated more productively by means of a Zoom meeting, with agreed upon procedures. I'm sure that MLT would participate in or organize such a meeting. And anonymity could be guaranteed, if preferred
Anonymous 2 sounds like the guy who is telling someone about a movie where he came in late and saw only the second half. .
After the TSJ Court replaced the elected leadership of the PCV with seven non PCV members and without a hearing, the PCV decided to nominate journalist Manuel Isidro Molina as its presidential candidate of the Alternative Popular Movement. They did so in conjunction with several other parties and popular movements much as they did for the last National Assembly election. The CNE refused to put Molina or the coalition on the ballot.
If Anonymous II wants to discuss this and the other canards in his comment I am sure MLToday can guarantee his anonymity in any digital discussion. Maybe then he could tell us why he needs anonymity and why he can't spell the name of the PCV General Secretary
I would be more ready to agree, had you not praised Sara Wagenkneht
Any other party? Even a fascist NATO lackeys' one?
I think that this is a very good article concerning the current repression by the increasingly neoliberal PSUV against the left in Venezuela and, in particular, the PCV. Anonymous and Anonymous II try to divert attention away from the fundamental issue of the electoral suppression of the PCV and other leftist parties by attacking the PCV. Anonymous repeats the tired slander that the PSUV uses, among others, against the PCV as being "Trotskyist" but fail to discuss the illegal, unconstitutional , and anti-democratic banning of the PCV's participation in the elections. They also speak of the candidacy of Marquez rather than analyze the illegal ban of the PCV. However, if you look at Marquez' platform on labor rights and compare it to the PSUV's, Marquez would seem to be the "progressive" as the PSUV has effectively abolished collective bargaining, imprisoned trade unionists, and suppressed the wages of the working class that are among the lowest in the hemisphere. Anonymous even slanders the Venezuelan political prisoner Ilich Ramirez by referring to him as "Carlos the Jackal", a name that was coined by French and US imperialism to demonize him. The PCV still campaigns for Ilich's release and published campaign material last week. I would ask Anonymous and Anonymous II to reflect on why they are jumping on the PSUV's anti-communist bandwagon. A debate would be a good way to clarify these issues.
"many CPs who (probably rightfully) signalled their support for the PCV in its court fight"
^ mentioned there.
If the Communist Party of Venezuela is fine with aligning with a bourgeoisie right wing asset of US imperialism and an anti-communist, why should we care if they aren't able to participate in the election, or if their political rights are limited? Cuba also limits political participation for people who conspire with US imperialism.
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