Maduro takes stock of popular consultation and says that communes are ‘pillars’ of Venezuela

Lorenzo Santiago, Brazil in fact – The President of Venezuela, Nicolás Maduro, said that the popular consultation held last Sunday in the country’s communes was a “complete success”. In a speech at the Socialist, Revolutionary and Chavista Commune of Mamera, in Caracas, the head of the Executive celebrated the vote and stated that popular organizations and participatory democracy are fundamental points for the development of Venezuelan society.

“What is the pillar of the country’s new democracy? Popular power, the people, the empowered people, the organized people, the mobilized people. I believe this is the way to change everything, this is the way to address what people really need it,” said the president.

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In total, 4,500 projects were chosen by the communes and checked by the Ministry of Communes. They will receive US$10,000 to complete. According to the Ministry of Communes, the vote mobilized at least 1.3 million people. 15,617 voting points in 49,000 communal councils across Venezuela received voters who would nominate quick-execution projects that were sent to the body.

Maduro said that, among the 23 thousand projects that received votes, those linked to public services, health, food, security, education, environment and economy received most of the “comuneros” choices. He ruled that projects must be carried out as “as quickly as possible”.

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“4,500 prioritized projects have been decided. We cannot delay even a second and the resources have to reach the communities immediately to start the 4,500 projects, to begin with. I trust in the popular power of the communes and community councils, you are the hope and the hope is on the streets,” he said.

In his speech, Maduro recalled that popular consultation and the organization of communes is the result of the idealization and work of former president Hugo Chávez. Communes are a specific concept of the Venezuelan State created by Chávez. His objective was for the management of the State to be carried out from the bottom up, and for the decision of the communal councils to have weight in the collective decision.

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Based on the organic law on communes, promulgated in 2010, the Chávez government institutionalized the creation of communal councils, which were later also organized into larger structures called communes. The former president’s objective was for the State to be administered by a communal confederation.

Society project – For Maduro, the consultation was an example of what the commune structure aims to: bring public management closer to the people for direct participation.

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“I firmly believe that the community consultation was a complete success. I hope it continues to be an experience for us, I am convinced that this is the way to truly address what people need, what people are crying out for,” he said.

The dimension of this type of voting for Venezuelan communes also brings a debate about a society project. For a large part of voters, popular participation is the most significant reflection of participatory democracy in the country. Maduro ended his speech by also reinforcing that the only possible way to overcome inequalities is social articulation around the socialist project.

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“I am sure that the path of popular power, the path of the Bolivarian Revolution, of the Socialist Revolution, is the only path for the people to exercise power. So that the people can shout for their community in the deepest depths of Venezuela. Long live the commune! Until victory!”, he said.

The participation of international observers was also highlighted by the government. Representatives from more than 50 countries followed the process and reported the “unique” experience surrounding the popular organization of communes.

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For the Minister of Communes, Guy Vernáez, the presence of observers is important to show a form of social organization that is not common in other countries and that “strengthens democracy”. According to him, the popular consultation is the tip of work that is constantly carried out by the communes.

“The works or projects that are carried out daily in a community are part of a transformative process that demonstrates the level of empowerment and sovereignty of the people”, said the minister.