New on venezuelanalysis.com

Explaining Chavista Successes as well as the Danger Spots in Post-Chávez Venezuela

chris — Thu, 23 May 2013 15:17:34 +0000

Steve Ellner - Nacla

Personality considerations cannot explain 14 years of one political triumph after another. The real reasons for Chávez’s success went much deeper than such factors as charisma and clientelism.

Venezuela’s Maduro Calls for Reactivation of the Great Patriotic Pole

chris — Thu, 23 May 2013 02:53:07 +0000

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro put out a call this morning to reactivate the national party and movement coalition, the Great Patriotic Pole (GPP). His call comes among speculation that there could be municipal elections in November, as well as a push by social movements to be included in upper government bodies.

Venezuela to Expand Its El Sistema Music Program

chris — Wed, 22 May 2013 20:25:10 +0000

Founder of Venezuela’s world famous El Sistema music program, Jose Abreu, met with President Nicolas Maduro last night to discuss expanding the program. They agreed on a project called Musical Program Simon Bolivar, which will aim to have one million Venezuelan youth and children playing musical instruments.

Venezuela: Life after Chavez

tamara — Wed, 22 May 2013 18:23:19 +0000

Fernando Lucena - Al Jazeera

When Hugo Chavez, Venezuela’s iconic and charismatic president, died from cancer earlier this year, one question was uppermost in the minds of his supporters, his opponents and the wider world.Would his Bolivarian revolution die with him or had his 15 years in power so fundamentally changed the country that his legacy would be secure - regardless of who was chosen as his successor?

Venezuelan President Meets with Private Television Stations

ewan — Wed, 22 May 2013 14:01:32 +0000

Yesterday Venezuelan president Nicolas Maduro met with representatives of private television stations Venevision and Televen. Together they discussed the media’s role in maintaining an environment of “peace, tolerance and living together”.

International Crisis Group Against Venezuela

tamara — Tue, 21 May 2013 20:38:28 +0000

Mark Weisbrot

The International Crisis Group (ICG) sells itself as “working to prevent conflict worldwide” but there is one country where their mission looks more like promoting rather than preventing conflict. Exhibit A is their report on Venezuela, released recently.

Opposition Releases Alleged Recording Demonstrating Corruption within Venezuelan Government

tamara — Tue, 21 May 2013 19:55:09 +0000

The Venezuelan opposition yesterday released a recording which they claim shows evidence of corruption and internal factionalism within the government. However journalist Mario Silva, supposedly in the recording, said it was a “set-up”.

Venezuelan Anti-Crime Program Records 55% Homicide Reduction

ewan — Mon, 20 May 2013 17:11:42 +0000

A new anti-crime program has resulted in a 55% reduction in homicides in a sector of Greater Caracas, a Venezuelan government official reported yesterday.

Henrique Capriles: The Prefabricated Leader

ewan — Mon, 20 May 2013 00:05:19 +0000

Ronald Muñoz – Ciudad CCS

This recent opinion article in Venezuelan daily Ciudad CCS examines the private media’s treatment of opposition leader Henrique Capriles, which the author says is “unprecedented in the history of our country”.

One Month since 14 April, Nicolas has Advanced

ewan — Sat, 18 May 2013 14:05:11 +0000

Nicmer Evans - Rebelión

Venezuelan political commentator Nicmer Evans analyses the first month of Nicolas Maduro’s presidency, arguing that despite the opposition challenge to his legitimacy Maduro is setting the country’s political agenda.

The Creators and the Creation: Review of “We Created Chávez: A People's History of the Venezuelan Revolution”

ewan — Fri, 17 May 2013 16:19:40 +0000

Todd Chretien – Socialist Worker.org

Todd Chretien examines a new book's insights into the Venezuelan revolutionary process.

Venezuela-China Relations Grow Following VP’s Visit

ryan — Fri, 17 May 2013 15:46:21 +0000

Venezuela and the People’s Republic of China took a further step forward in strengthening their bilateral relations last Monday when Vice President Li Yuancho visited the Caribbean country as part of his recent tour of South America.

Venezuelan Government Working with Private Sector to Increase Production

tamara — Thu, 16 May 2013 21:36:28 +0000

We’ve Definitely Arrived at the Inevitable

chris — Thu, 16 May 2013 20:14:00 +0000

Roland Denis - Aporrea

One prominent Venezuelan intellectual and activist’s perspective on the current political situation and tasks ahead, Denis argues that there is a larger opening now for the opposition to take power, and that the grassroots are talking of regrouping, and are at a “critical crossroads”.

Venezuela's Election System Holds Up As A Model For The World

tamara — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:47:19 +0000

Eugenio Martinez - Forbes

A surprising article in Forbes magazine recognises, and praises Venezuela's electoral system.

Venezuelan Soldiers to Patrol alongside Police to Fight Crime

chris — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:05:45 +0000

The Venezuelan government announced that it is implementing a short term plan, called ‘Safe Homeland’, to fight crime. Members of the Bolivarian Armed Forces (FANB) will patrol areas of Venezuela with the highest crime rates.

VIDEO: Tibisay Lucena of the CNE responds to election fraud claims [English subtitles]

ewan — Wed, 15 May 2013 23:24:46 +0000

Tibisay Lucena - CNE

The president of Venezuela's National Electoral Council (CNE), Tibisay Lucena, responds to claims of electoral fraud in the 14 April presidential election.

Live Electoral Auditing

tamara — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:22:59 +0000

CNE

The National Electoral Council (CNE) is broadcasting its citizen audit of the election results live on its website. Here are some excerpts from the process.

The “Loss” of Globovision Might not Herald the Apocalypse

tamara — Wed, 15 May 2013 15:04:19 +0000

Ryan Mallett-Outtrim - Venezuelanalysis.com

The day after the sale of Globovision was confirmed, Venezuelans awoke to new world devoid of any brave voices to question their Orwellian regime.

Venezuelan Government Announces Measures to Overcome Food Shortages

greg — Wed, 15 May 2013 01:59:21 +0000

The Venezuelan government has announced a range of measures to overcome the increase in food shortages in the country.

Urge NYT Public Editor to Investigate Biased Reporting on Venezuela & Honduras

tamara — Tue, 14 May 2013 20:59:42 +0000

Various, NYT Examiner

The following petition, signed by over a dozen experts on Latin America and media including Noam Chomsky and Greg Grandin, was sent today to Margaret Sullivan, Public Editor for The New York Times.

Latin America’s Radical Left in Power: Complexities and Challenges in the Twenty-First Century

tamara — Tue, 14 May 2013 00:41:51 +0000

Steve Ellner - Latin American Perspectives

The democratic, peaceful road to socialism, which has been pursued by the governments of Venezuela, Bolivia and Ecuador and serves as an inspiration for much of the Latin American left, hardly represents a new approach.

Babette's Feast With the Refugees at PDVSA: The Real Importance of Maduro's Victory in Venezuela

tamara — Mon, 13 May 2013 23:31:45 +0000

Asa Cusack - Huffington Post

Following last month's elections, the legacy of Hugo Chávez was raked over the coals one last time, but the same old stats on poverty, inflation, and crime miss the real story.

Venezuela’s President Maduro Assures Food Shortages Are Due to “Economic Warfare”

greg — Mon, 13 May 2013 03:39:45 +0000

During a speech on Saturday, Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro blamed food shortages on an “economic war” from the Venezuelan private sector, and assured the government is taking measures to resolve the issue.

Venezuelan Peasants Relaunch the “War on Latifundio” in Lara State

tamara — Mon, 13 May 2013 00:07:52 +0000

Landless peasants from the western state of Lara announced they were relaunching the “war on latifundio” last week when hundreds of them invaded and occupied a large estate belonging to the local elite.

"Part of the Transition to Socialism": Venezuela's Labour Law Comes into Effect

tamara — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:33:32 +0000

Venezuela's new Labour Law for Workers (Lottt) came into effect this week, guaranteeing shorter working hours, longer maternity leave and pensions for all Venezuelans.

The New York Times on Venezuela and Honduras: A Case of Journalistic Misconduct

ryan — Fri, 10 May 2013 23:10:37 +0000

Keane Bhatt- NACLA

As a careful examination of the language and coverage of nearly four years of New York Times articles reveals, concern for freedom and democracy in Latin America has not been an honest concern for the liberal media institution.

Venezuelan Central Bank Reports Inflationary Spike

tamara — Fri, 10 May 2013 21:00:29 +0000

Consumer prices rose faster last month than they have for three years, with the cost of food bearing the brunt of a surge in inflation.

Brazil Backs Venezuela's Maduro

tamara — Fri, 10 May 2013 15:45:13 +0000

Venezuela's president Nicolas Maduro has wrapped up his tour of the Southern Cone after receiving support from South America's largest economy, Brazil.

Venezuela's Fourth Week of Post Election Controversy: Assembly Deal Reached

ryan — Thu, 09 May 2013 00:48:42 +0000

After last week’s violent national assembly brawl, the opposition and the United Socialist Party of Venezuela (PSUV) have reached an agreement. However, the opposition has brought another appeal to the Supreme Court over the election results and is still abstaining from the auditing process that it demanded.