On the political situation in Venezuela

On the occasion of the Venezuelan presidential elections on July 28, 2024, the Swiss Communist Party rejects as a matter of principle the imperialist interference of the United States, the European Union and the Organization of American States against the country's sovereignty, and reaffirms its solidarity with the Venezuelan people.

The political, social and economic problems that have plagued Maduro's government for over 10 years have been caused in large part by the imperialist system, in particular the sanctions, which we strongly denounce. However, it is pertinent to analyse with lucidity the responsibility of the governmental management of Maduro and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), during this same period.

First of all, political power and the means of production still belong to the bourgeoisie in Venezuela, as in other “progressive” Latin American countries. There have indeed been measures against extreme poverty, social services have been set up and companies have been nationalised. But the fundamental point is that there has been no radical change in the capitalist character of the system. Workforce is still at the service of the capital.

In addition, Maduro's government has implemented anti-popular policies in favour of national and international capitalist interests, in collusion with Venezuelan employers, in the areas of wages, retirement pensions and privatisation. In this context, we must also highlight the cases of corruption, the most revealing example of which is the misappropriation of $22 billion dollars from the oil company PDVSA.

Consequently, the Communist Party of Venezuela (PCV), on the basis of its defence of the independence of the Venezuelan workers' movement, as well as the formation of the revolutionary popular bloc, has distanced itself from Maduro's government, systematically denouncing the new pact of capitalist elites between the PSUV and the employers' organisations. 

Maduro's government and the PSUV have achieved a defamatory, anti-communist campaign against the PCV, calling into question even its democratic rights and those of its Secretary General, Oscar Figuera, who was also re-elected as a national deputy in the 2020 legislative elections. This situation has led to serious unconstitutional irregularities, stripping the PCV of its electoral rights and preventing it from presenting a candidacy in this year's presidential elections.

The Swiss Communist Party reaffirms its firm solidarity with the Communist Party of Venezuela, which is under serious attack from the PSUV government. We denounce the recent threats against Oscar Figuera, General Secretary of the PCV, as well as the persecution of communist leaders and activists, such as Héctor Alejo Rodriguez, International Secretary of the PCV.

As for the political crisis provoked by the presidential elections of July 28, 2024, it has a clear class character and is rooted in the Maduro government's policy in favour of capitalist interests, which has resulted in the destruction of workers' wages, the imprisonment of trade unionists and attacks on the PCV. At the same time, Maduro's government has negotiated agreements with the United States, employers and the Venezuelan opposition on economic matters and the electoral agenda.

Obviously, imperialism is trying to instrumentalize the demonstrations of the popular sectors, a situation that must be countered through an independent class policy that illuminates the path to socialism-communism, and not by criminalising all demonstrations. Only a Communist Party like the PCV, with a revolutionary program and close links with the popular workers' movement, can lead this anti-imperialist struggle consistently and effectively.

In view of the current political situation in Venezuela, the Swiss Communist Party reaffirms the following points:

[1] We reject as a matter of principle any imperialist interference by the USA, the EU and the OAS in the affairs of the Venezuelan people;

[2] We demand the restitution of the democratic rights of the PCV and the immediate cessation of persecution against it;

[3] We call for respect for the right to demonstrate and for the democratic rights of the Venezuelan people.