Caracas, Venezuela – In a meeting chaired by Francisco Torrealba, past president of the Venezuela Transport Workers Union, and current deputy of the National Assembly, international trade unionists heard updates from Venezuelan leaders.

Longtime Bolivarian Revolution leader Eduardo Piñate shared an assessment of the situation in Venezuela post-January 3 with the group during a meeting in early March. As he mentioned the many fronts that U.S. imperialism is intervening in, including China, the Middle East, Russia/Ukraine, and Latin America and the Caribbean, Piñate then spoke to Venezuela’s place in the international scene. Piñate stated, “With the world’s largest oil reserves, the top ten largest reserves of natural gas, rare earth minerals, biodiversity, and fresh water, we have resources for trade and development. But since we are pursuing an alternative model, one with a revolutionary direction, we are a threat to the United States’ system of capitalism. This is why they attacked us on January 3.”

Piñate continued “But I want to make clear a number of political victories. One: President Maduro and Cilia Flores are alive; two, the U.S. could not occupy our national territory; three, there are no internal forces, no base for fascist reactionaries and no rallies anywhere in the country celebrated the bombing, in fact the people been in the streets constantly since the attack; four, we had a successful constitution transition to an acting president and swore in a new National Assembly as our laws dictate. All of this has allowed us to maintain our political direction. We had tactical flexibility in the moment that meant we did not lose power despite our leader being kidnapped.” He added, “I have trust and confidence in the revolutionary direction we have, of Chavez, of Maduro, of heroic resistance of the last ten plus years, we are not a colony of the gringos.”

After two years as minister of People’s Power in the Social Process of Labor, Piñate will continue in his other role as part of the executive secretariat of the president of United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV). Appointed as new minister is Carlos Alexis Castillo who brings years of legal and judicial experience in labor law.

During the subsequent meeting on March 20, PSUV Vice President of Foreign Relations Tania Dias laid bare the harsh reality of the early hours of January 3. With over 15,000 military personnel and scores of naval and aircraft on their shores, the plan to actualize the threat took place. “The cruel, barbarous regime of Donald Trump told us to negotiate or they’ll bomb the entire city in ten minutes,” she said. “One does not negotiate with kidnappers like this,” Diaz added. “While they kidnapped my close, personal friends, we are in strong, capable hands with Delcy as acting president.”

Diaz continued with an assessment of the current political situation and the failure of the U.S. to create regime change: “The power isn't just with the executive, nor the National Assembly; real democratic power is with the people. We have thousands of comunas, PSUV elected committees in nearly all the streets of the country. Popular militias coordinated with our army, the union. This is the vision of Comandante Chavez, carried further by President Maduro, and deepening the revolution.”

“This is why all the attempts at psychological warfare like false media narratives, misinformation aimed at sowing division and undermining our confidence have failed: the people have political power here,” Diaz emphasized.

#CaracasVZ #VZ #International #Venezuela #PSUV #Labor #Maudro

Chicago IL – On Saturday January 10, 50 people attended a reportback from Jae Franklin, who traveled to Venezuela for the International People’s Assembly for Sovereignty and Peace of Our Americas in December. This event came a week after Trump’s attack on of the country and kidnapping of democratically-elected President Nicolás Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores.

The masses of Venezuela have taken to the streets demanding the return of the president and “First Combatant” and in defense of the Bolivarian Revolution against U.S. imperialism. Franklin is a co-chair of the Anti-War Committee – Chicago (AWC), which has answered the call of the Venezuelan people by taking to the streets and demanding U.S. hands off Venezuela.

The audience chanted, “Caracas, Aguanta! El pueblo esta levanta! (Caracas, hold on! The people are standing up!)” led by emcee Gio Araujo with Freedom Road Socialist Organization FRSO at the start of the program.

“The people of this country understand that the U.S. is the aggressor,” said an activist with Black Alliance for Peace (BAP) Chicago.

“There are those in Venezuela who want capitalism to return, and they are in the minority. There are those in the Philippines who are nothing but greedy and suck on the people,” said Di Balitaan from Anakbayan USA. Balitaan also demanded the release of Chantal Anicoche, who was abducted by the armed forces of the Philippines on January 1.

The room was filled with people eager to learn about the Bolivarian Revolution and the role that international solidarity plays against U.S. imperialism. Franklin recounted how Simón Bolívar fought Spanish colonialism in the 1800s and abolished slavery after spending time in Haiti while exiled.

While in Venezuela, Franklin visited several communes, which are territories with a political structure that manages the means of production. Venezuela has 4000 such communes

“Communes are a way for people to build power,” Franklin said. The delegation heard a speech from President Maduro at Comuna Amalivaca. He spoke about the process of transformation in Venezuela and the need to combat imperialist lies.

Franklin described their joy at seeing how Maduro’s party, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) was composed of young people, queer people and women.

Franklin presented videos of Venezuelan people dancing to revolutionary music during the conference. Their tireless drive for self-determination mirrors the videos and images of the Chavistas in the streets protesting the American imperialist invasion. They also showed pictures of publicly accessible medicine cabinets in the communes, and a billboard celebrating the Palestinian resistance.

“When we say ‘Hands off Venezuela’ we also mean ‘Free Palestine’ and ‘ICE off our streets’ and ‘Justice for Laquan McDonald!’” Franklin declared. “We have to weaken U.S. imperialism every way we can from here within the belly of the beast.”

Franklin encouraged attendees to keep demanding the release of President Maduro and Cilia Flores, and to support AWC’s campaign to divest Illinois from Israel bonds and companies complicit in the genocide in Palestine. Illinois residents can sign the petition to divest at bit.ly/awcdivest.

#ChicagoIL #IL #AntiWarMovement #Venezuela #Maduro #PSUV #ChicagoAWC

Caracas, Venezuela – On December 17, the Constituent Assembly of the Venezuelan Working Class welcomed international delegates to share in their historic achievement of integrating the trade union movement into the national plan of resistance and advancing the cause of the working class in the national democratic Bolivarian Revolution.

Officially titled the Congress of Latin America, the Caribbean, and World in Defense of Peace, the gathering was chaired by trade union leader and member of the national leadership of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Francisco Torrealba.

After spirited renditions of the Venezuelan national anthem and The Internationale, Torrealba introduced Wills Rangel as the first speaker to a roaring standing ovation from all. Rangel is an elected representative of the National Assembly and President of the Central Bolivariana Socialista de Trabajadores de La Ciudad, El Campo, y La Pesca (CBST-CCP) and president of the Oil Workers Federation (FUTPV).

Rangel opened his remarks by stating “We started this process in October of meeting and developing at every level of workers right down to the base with the fundamental objective of mobilizing the working masses at the national level. What happened yesterday, with our first-ever worker-president, Nicolas Maduro, was the first time workers presented their demands to the president. This is just the start, we need to continue with our constituent assemblies and involve more workers who want to participate.”

One of the delegates from Cuba, Niurka González Orberá, a union leader at the University of Havana and secretary-general of her national union, added that this is the “first constituent assembly of the working class was democratic from the base to the national level.”

Minister of Foreign Affairs Yvan Gil spoke next with a message to Trump and the Venezuelan oligarchy who want war and privatization: “We welcome the confrontation because we will come out of this [situation] independent and capable of heading toward complete liberation.” He added that “the horizon is ours, our struggle is not just resistance but a revolutionary offensive in unison with the communes.”

After a series of international delegates from Chile, Niger and Brazil spoke, the Congress’ final speaker, Blanca Eekout closed the proceedings. Eekhout served as the Minister of People’s Power for the Communes and Social Movements of Venezuela and is the current president of the Instituto Simón Bolívar for Peace and Solidarity Among Peoples (ISB) which advocates for peace, solidarity and human rights in Venezuela.

Eekout stated, “We are here in front of a new threat, a leader of the corporations with his new Monroe Doctrine, a representative of the most powerful multi-millionaires. On the other side, with Bolivar, is a worker. A worker-president at the head of a revolution that doesn’t give up for nothing and nobody.”

Eekhout continued “In this moment it is crucial to go on the offensive. This phase of imperialism, in absolute decline and desperation is no longer using a mask. The only way it can maintain itself is barbarity, war and genocide like in Gaza.”

Eekhout concluded, “Why Venezuela? Why is the head of the capitalists putting their aggression toward Venezuela? We know they’ve said that our oil is theirs, that they want our natural resources. But that’s not really it. It is because we decided to transition to socialism, toward a communal state, with the working class as the protagonist. They don’t want an example of what the people can do, they can govern themselves. They can’t accept it.”

#International #Venezuela #Labor #PSUV #AntiWarMovement

Caracas, Venezuela – Venezuelan trade unions gathered on December 15 to discuss plans and proposals to expand their participation in the defense of the country and the goals of the working class. The Congress of the Working Class invited international delegates to join them in solidarity.

On December 16, the Deputy of International Affairs of the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), Tania Diaz, spoke to over 90 international delegates representing trade unions from over 30 countries. She began by highlighting the economic growth of Venezuela in the face of U.S. sanctions, stating that they have had 6 to 8% growth that past couple of years, with 18 straight quarters of growth. She made clear that the economic growth reflected the qualitative aspect of the transformation from an economy extremely dependent on imports to an economy that is more self-sufficient, especially in basic food staples.

Politically, Diaz honored the legacy of past President Hugo Chavez by emphasizing that the PSUV is a party of bases, not just an electoral party. She spoke to the foundations of the PSUV being rooted in consciousness and on-the-ground organization so that “every street, every corner has an organ for collective decision making.”

The PSUV has recently restructured internally to add more vice presidents to better integrate the expanded number of committees and communal councils into the “Plan de Resistencia.” Diaz added “We don’t see Donald Trump and U.S. imperialism’s aggression toward us as just a threat but an opportunity to demonstrate an alternative and more importantly, be victorious. A triumph of life over capitalism, which is the culture of death.”

#International #Venezuela #Labor #PSUV

La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad denuncia el más reciente ataque del presidente de EE. UU., Donald Trump, contra el presidente de Venezuela, Nicholas Maduro. Es otro intento escandaloso de EE. UU. por criminalizar a Venezuela y a sus líderes. La fiscal general de EE. UU., Pam Bondi, declaró que EE. UU. ofrecía 50 millones de dólares por información que llevara al arresto del presidente venezolano. ¡Nosotros decimos que el presidente Maduro vale mucho, mucho más!

Como cualquier otra recompensa que EE. UU. ha puesto sobre el presidente Maduro, ésta no será reclamada. Está basada en acusaciones falsas de mentirosos que mienten – el presidente Trump y la fiscal general Pam Bondi. Como ex conductor de autobús y presidente de un sindicato, confiamos en que el presidente Maduro es moral y digno de confianza, especialmente en comparación con sus acusadores. Maduro tiene mucha fortaleza de carácter y se enfrenta al imperio que intenta derrocarlo.

El Departamento de Estado de Trump acusa al presidente Maduro de corrupción y narcotráfico, vinculando al gobierno de Maduro con las Fuerzas Armadas Revolucionarias de Colombia (FARC). Sin embargo, las FARC firmaron un acuerdo de paz en 2016. Pero, a la Casa Blanca de Trump simplemente no le importa la información actual. Trump quiere fingir que es fuerte, mientras a su alrededor el imperio estadounidense se debilita.

Trump se presenta públicamente como si dictara a otros, mientras que en la realidad envía equipos de negociadores a conseguir acuerdos sobre prisioneros, inmigrantes e incluso niños separados de sus padres por la Patrulla Fronteriza de EE. UU. y ICE. Otros países que negocian con EE. UU. deberían tomar nota de cómo lo hace el presidente Maduro.

Las acusaciones de Trump son una serie de narrativas falsas, informantes pagados y traidores a Venezuela que robaron millones en su camino a Florida. Al parecer, entre más grandes son las mentiras, más aumenta la recompensa, duplicándose de 25 millones de dólares.

El último intento de voltear a un alto funcionario venezolano terminó mal para Trump en su primer mandato. En otra victoria del presidente Maduro, Venezuela logró la liberación de Alex Saab, el negociador responsable de romper las sanciones económicas de EE. UU. El diplomático venezolano Alex Saab mantuvo la frente en alto a pesar de tres años detenido en EE. UU. y ser torturado. Se negó a someterse a las mentiras de la DEA, convirtiendo la única audiencia realizada en un desastre para el Departamento de Estado. Maduro negoció el regreso de Saab, y Saab se desempeña como Ministro de Industrias y Producción Nacional de Venezuela desde el 18 de octubre de 2024.

Increíblemente, los intentos de EE. UU. por desestabilizar y derrocar la Revolución Bolivariana de Venezuela ya llevan 25 años. El presidente Bush apoyó un fallido golpe de Estado contra el presidente Hugo Chávez, lo que solo fortaleció la Revolución Bolivariana y la determinación de sus líderes. Luego, el presidente Obama declaró al gobierno venezolano una amenaza a la seguridad nacional e impuso sanciones económicas, que fueron intensificadas por Trump y después por Biden.

La respuesta del PSUV (el partido gobernante de Venezuela) a las sanciones estadounidenses fue ampliar y profundizar la economía venezolana y orientar la producción a servir a su propia gente en lugar de a Wall Street. La Revolución Bolivariana implementó rápidamente y de manera constante reformas en educación, vivienda, producción de alimentos, atención médica y gasto social. A pesar de las dificultades generadas por las sanciones de EE. UU., esas reformas, y las innovaciones que requieren, siguen avanzando hoy en día.

Durante el último mandato de Trump, hubo mercenarios estadounidenses capturados intentando derrocar violentamente al gobierno electo de Maduro. Más mercenarios estadounidenses fueron capturados el año pasado. Anticipando más incursiones armadas respaldadas por EE. UU., investigadores descubrieron un gran arsenal de explosivos justo esta semana. Las Fuerzas Armadas de Venezuela siguen al frente en la defensa y avance de la Revolución Bolivariana. Las milicias populares continúan entrenándose y preparándose para repeler a invasores extranjeros. EE. UU. sería tonto al atacar. A pesar de sus muchos fracasos y con pocas opciones restantes, el intento de Trump por desestabilizar a Venezuela continúa con esta recompensa de 50 millones de dólares.

Nosotros de la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad nos solidarizamos con el presidente Maduro de Venezuela, el PSUV y la Revolución Bolivariana. Les deseamos lo mejor en su avance hacia una nueva sociedad democrática, intentando construir y renovar su economía para servir a la clase trabajadora y sus aliados.

¡Abajo los ataques de Trump contra el presidente Maduro!

¡Alcen los puños en solidaridad con el PSUV y la Revolución Bolivariana!

#International #Venezuela #FRSO #Statement #OSCL #PSUV #Maduro

The Freedom Road Socialist Organization denounces U.S. President Donald Trump’s most recent attack on Venezuela’s President Nicholas Maduro. It is yet another outrageous U.S. attempt to criminalize Venezuela and its leaders. U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi declared the U.S. was offering $50 million for information leading to the arrest of the Venezuelan president. We say President Maduro is worth much, much more!

Like every other U.S. bounty placed on President Maduro, this one will go unclaimed. It is based on false claims coming from lying liars who lie – President Trump and Attorney General Pam Bondi. As a former bus driver and union president, we trust President Maduro is moral and trustworthy, especially in comparison to his accusers. Maduro has a lot of backbone and stands against the empire that is attempting to unseat him.

The Trump State Department accuses President Maduro of corruption and drug trafficking, linking Maduro’s government to the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC). However, the FARC signed a peace agreement in 2016. Timely facts just do not matter to Trump’s White House, though. Trump wants to pretend he is strong, while all around him the U.S. empire grows weak.

Trump publicly postures as dictating to others, while in reality he sends teams of negotiators for deals on prisoners, immigrants and even children separated from their parents by U.S. Border Patrol and ICE. Other countries dealing with the U.S. should take note of how President Maduro does it.

Trump’s accusations are an array of phony narratives, paid informants and traitors to Venezuela who stole millions on their way to Florida. Apparently the bigger the lies grow, the higher the bounty goes, doubling from $25 million.

The last attempt to turn a high-ranking Venezuelan official ended badly for Trump in his first term. In another victory for President Maduro, Venezuela won freedom for Alex Saab, the negotiator responsible for breaking U.S. economic sanctions. Venezuela’s diplomat Alex Saab stood proud despite spending three years in U.S. detention and being tortured. He refused to submit to the lies of the Drug Enforcement Agency, turning the only hearing held into a debacle for the U.S. State Department. Maduro negotiated Saab’s return, and Saab has served as Venezuela’s Minister of Industry and National Production since October 18, 2024.

Incredibly, U.S. attempts to disrupt and overthrow Venezuela’s Bolivarian Revolution go back 25 years now. President Bush backed a failed coup attempt against President Hugo Chavez, which only strengthened the Bolivarian Revolution and its leaders’ resolve. Then President Obama declared the Venezuelan government a national security threat and imposed economic sanctions, which were deepened by Trump and then Biden.

The PSUV (Venezuela’s ruling party) response to U.S. sanctions was to broaden and deepen Venezuela’s economy and orient production to serving their own people instead of Wall Street. The Bolivarian Revolution quickly and steadily made reforms in education, housing, food production, health care and social spending. Despite the difficulties created by U.S. sanctions, those reforms, and the innovations they require, continue advancing today.

During Trump’s last term there were U.S. mercenaries captured attempting to violently overthrow Maduro’s elected government. More U.S. mercenaries were captured in the past year. Expecting more U.S.-backed armed incursions, searchers discovered a large cache of explosives just this week. Venezuela’s Armed Forces remain at the forefront of defending and advancing the Bolivarian Revolution. People’s militias continue to train and prepare to fend off foreign invaders. The U.S. would be foolish to attack. Despite many failures, and without many options left, Trump’s attempted destabilization of Venezuela continues with this $50 million bounty.

We of the FRSO stand in solidarity with Venezuela’s President Maduro, the PSUV, and the Bolivarian Revolution. We wish them well as they advance toward a new, democratic society, attempting to build and renew their economy to serve the working class and its allies.

Down with Trump’s attacks on President Maduro!

Raise your fists in solidarity with the PSUV and the Bolivarian Revolution!

#International #Venezuela #Maduro #PSUV #FRSO #Statement

Mientras los venezolanos celebran la inauguración del Presidente Maduro el 10 de enero, la Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad saluda la Revolución Bolivariana, el Partido Socialista Unido de Venezuela (PSUV), y sobre todo al Presidente Maduro por otra gran victoria. Superando las sanciones estadounidenses, la interferencia electoral y las mentiras, el pueblo de Venezuela ha triunfado una vez más.

Grandes números de personas llenaron las calles de Caracas para ver la toma de juramento del Presidente Maduro. Miembros del PSUV, sindicalistas, organizadores comunitarios y multitudes de jóvenes salieron a las calles de la ciudad capital, mientras decenas de miles más de trabajadores y campesinos viajaron en autobús desde todo el país. Se están congregando para apoyar la continuación de la Revolución Bolivariana y el tercer mandato de Maduro.

Por su parte, el Presidente Maduro tendrá un mandato de seis años para fortalecer el legado del Comandante Hugo Chavez. Maduro proclamó, “Este nuevo mandato presidencial será un tiempo de paz, prosperidad, igualdad y una nueva democracia.” Añadió, “¡Lo juro por nuestra historia y por mi vida, lo lograremos!”

Maduro sigue construyendo una Venezuela independiente y soberana que beneficia a la gente en lugar de a los bancos estadounidenses y las corporaciones extranjeras de petróleo. La Revolución Bolivariana ha traído enormes cambios, incluyendo la construcción de más de 5 millones de apartamentos y casas pequeñas, un programa de alimentación, CLAP, que suministra comida a más de 80% de los hogares, y sistemas de salud y educación que alcanzan a todos los venezolanos en vez de solo las clases altas. La riqueza del petróleo ahora sirve a la gente.

El presidente electo Trump ya está interfiriendo en los asuntos internos de Venezuela. Trump y sus candidatos para el gabinete están promoviendo al perdedor de las elecciones de Venezuela del verano pasado. Edmundo Gonzalez perdió porque no es popular. Maduro ganó y él tiene las masas organizadas de la gente trabajadora y la lealtad de las fuerzas armadas revolucionarias a su apoyo.

En su último mandato como presidente, la política de Trump hacia Venezuela fue miserable y no logró nada. Trump impuso sanciones económicas más graves desde los EE. UU. para castigar a la clase obrera de Venezuela. El problema para los EE. UU., sin embargo, es que a pesar de algunas dificultades, la economía venezolana continuó creciendo y desarrollando. La agricultura sostenible redujo las importaciones de alimentos y los precios, mientras que nuevas industrias y tecnología moderna están llegando a todo el país.

Trump también respaldó un intento de golpe de Estado fallido en 2019 contra el Presidente Maduro. Luego hubo mercenarios estadounidenses capturados por milicias locales mientras intentaban infiltrar Venezuela. Un número de intentos de asesinato también fueron frustrados. Los ataques a la infraestructura eléctrica y petrolera de Venezuela fueron superados por la gente de las empresas dirigidas por sus trabajadores, quienes están constantemente vigilantes. Otra gran derrota para los EE. UU. fue verse obligado a liberar al diplomático venezolano Alex Saab, quien ahora está trabajando duro para derrotar las sanciones estadounidenses.

La Organización Socialista Camino de la Libertad está orgullosa de estar en solidaridad con el PSUV y el Presidente Maduro. Venezuela es un faro de esperanza para la independencia y el progreso en América Latina y el Caribe.

¡Viva el Presidente Maduro! ¡Viva la Revolución Bolivariana!

#International #Venezuela #Maduro #PSUV #FRSO #OSCL #Statement

As Venezuelans celebrate the inauguration of President Maduro on January 10, the Freedom Road Socialist Organization salutes the Bolivarian Revolution, the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV), and especially President Maduro on another great victory! Overcoming U.S. sanctions, election interference and lies, the people of Venezuela have triumphed once again.

Huge numbers of people packed the streets of Caracas to watch President Maduro’s swearing-in ceremony. PSUV members, trade unionists, community organizers and youth poured out into the streets from the capital city, while tens of thousands more workers and farmers travelled by coach from across the country. They are rallying to support the continuation of the Bolivarian Revolution and Maduro’s third term.

For his part, President Maduro will have another six-year term to build upon the legacy of Comandante Hugo Chavez. Maduro proclaimed, “This new presidential term will be a time of peace, prosperity, equality and a new democracy.” He added, “I swear on our history and on my life, we shall achieve it!”

Maduro is continuing to build an independent and sovereign Venezuela benefiting the people instead of U.S. banks and foreign oil corporations. The Bolivarian Revolution has brought huge changes, including the building of over 5 million apartments and small houses, a food program, CLAP, that feeds over 80% of homes, and healthcare and education systems that reach every Venezuelan instead of just the upper classes. The oil wealth of Venezuela now serves the people.

President-elect Trump is already interfering in the internal affairs of Venezuela. Trump and his cabinet picks are promoting the loser of Venezuela’s elections this past summer. Edmundo Gonzalez lost because he is not popular. Maduro won and he has the organized masses of working people and the loyalty of the revolutionary armed forces to back him up.

In his last term as president, Trump’s policy towards Venezuela was miserable and achieved nothing. Trump enacted harsher U.S. economic sanctions to punish the working people of Venezuela. The problem for the U.S., however, is that despite some difficulties, the Venezuelan economy continued to grow and develop. Sustainable farming cut food imports and prices, while new industries and modern technology are reaching the whole country.

Trump also backed a failed coup attempt in 2019 against President Maduro. Then there were U.S. mercenaries captured by local militias while attempting to infiltrate Venezuela. A number of assassination plots were foiled as well. Attacks on the electric and oil infrastructure of Venezuela were overcome by the people of the worker-run enterprises, who ar