Socialist Appeal
The Marxist voice of Labour and youth
For the last two weeks there has been a violent campaign of rioting on the part of a small number of opposition supporters in Venezuela. They have blockaded streets and avenues in an attempt to force the removal of President Maduro. What is the meaning of these actions and how should they be confronted?
The December 8th municipal elections in Venezuela gave yet another victory to the Bolivarian revolution, with the Socialist United Party (PSUV) and its allies receiving 5.1 million votes (49.24% of the total) and 4.4 million (42.72%) going to the opposition. The opposition had presented these elections as a plebiscite on Maduro's presidency; the result, however, will serve to vindicate the decision taken by Maduro's to fight against the economic sabotage led by the capitalists.
In the run up to the 8th December municipal elections in Venezuela, the campaign of speculation, hoarding, profiteering, overpricing and sabotage of the economy has intensified. The Venezuelan government of President Maduro has denounced that there is a “slow motion coup” being implemented and has taken measures to fight this economic war.
In recent days, President Maduro has rightly explained the seriousness of the economic war against the Bolivarian revolution, pointing out that the culprits are the capitalists and has announced a series of measures to address it. We publish here a statement by Lucha de Clases, Venezuelan section of the IMT, which explains what is needed to fight this economic war - workers' control and expropriation of the oligarchy.
What started as a small demonstration against an increase of 20 cents (barely 9 pence) in the price of public transport fares in Sao Paulo became a national mass movement which mobilised more than a million people in 80 cities. Jorge Martin analyses the protests and demonstrations that have rocked Brazil over the last week.