VENEZUELA: 'Socialism is our model’

Aurora Morales, member of the Venezuelan National Assembly and secretary for international relations for the Movement for the Fifth Republic (MVR) party, was a guest speaker at an international conference, “Socialism in Latin America: Experiences in Change and Regional Integration”, held in Quito, Ecuador, on April 17-18. Below is an abridged version of Morales’s address to the conference translated by Green Left Weekly's Coral Wynter.

VENEZUELA: 'Socialism is our model’

Aurora Morales

April 2006

Aurora Morales, member of the Venezuelan National Assembly and secretary for international relations for the Movement for the Fifth Republic (MVR) party, was a guest speaker at an international conference, “Socialism in Latin America: Experiences in Change and Regional Integration”, held in Quito, Ecuador, on April 17-18. The conference, sponsored by the Socialist Party of Ecuador to mark its 80th anniversary, heard speakers from socialist and revolutionary parties from around the continent. The following is an abridged version of Morales’s address to the conference.

Greetings from Hugo Chavez, president of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, to all the socialist parties participating in the historic project of changing Latin America, and to all those present today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the Socialist Party of Ecuador. I welcome the chance to exchange opinions, impressions and ideas with other political figures and personalities from Latin America, to look for a united strategy for this continent so that our people can live with increased dignity. I look forward to listening to the ideas and thoughts of Ecuadorians who are socialist, progressive, revolutionary and Bolivarian. I also want to deliver greetings from my Bolivarian compatriots.

My talk is on Latin American integration and international relations, from a revolutionary Bolivarian perspective. We have a project of constitutional change and at the centre of it is the human being. When talking of jurisprudence, I mean how do we look for a new system of international relations that provides equity in the arena of social, political and economic exchange in the region and internationally.

This is not a program of short duration, but a very long project. To break with the hegemonic monopoly of imperialism, to break with the old system we have inherited, is not easy. The difficulties we have to confront are difficulties of a different type in each country, because not all of our countries are equal. Because of this, we can’t find just one form in which we can develop. We have to adapt to different customs, economics, social conditions, politics, and relationship of forces in each one of our countries.

But we have to unite on this highway, to try and march together, to tackle the inevitable contradictions that arise and have arisen. We need to have the will to resolve these contradictions, the will to search for a better world.

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Comments

[Henry]

Very interesting. The Venezuelan "socialism" is looking like the Chinese "socialism" with every passing minute. I'm sure that Ramirito Helmeyer, Alex del Nogal, and other rapacious white-collar criminals are enjoying their privileges as "Bolivarian Socialists". Needless to say, the poor will get some crumbs, just as they did under CAP.

[Boli-Nica]

LMAO.... Venezuelan Socialism is really producing a new equality.... equality of thiefs that is.

Nouveau riche Venezuelan kleptocrats, have joined the old-school thieves, in buying so much investment properties here in Miami they keep the real estate boom going.

[Reinaldo]

Henry: any Chavista knows that there are still corrupt people in venezuela, but we don`t adopt a passive stance...instead we fight against corruption and bureaucracy...any chavista will tell you that the Chavez government in no way resembles that of Carlos Andres Perez (CAP)...you have to be very ignorant to make that comparison...I have also posted this comment in Spanish below.

Henry: que sigue habiendo corruptos lo sabe de sobra el chavista promedio, pero no adopta una actitud contemplativa, sino que combate tanto la corrupción como la burocracia. Y cualquier chavista sabe, porque lo vive todos los días, que el gobierno de Chávez no tiene nada que ver con Carlos Andrés Pérez. Es necesario ser demasiado ignorante para comparar ambas experiencias históricas.

[Reinaldo]

Boli-Nica,
Let me tell yo something: any chavista that is worthy of respect does not engage in discussion with a "Miami" antichavista...it´s a question of principles brother....what can you do...

Déjame aclararte algo: chavista que se respeta no discute con antichavista mayamero. Es una cuestión de principios hermano, qué se le va a hacer.

[cocoloco]

vaya que belleza!

Boli-nica tu la verdad mi pana estas equivocado!! la corrupcion con el gobierno de hugo es increible y ademas que haces leyendo estas noticias en ingles? ese es el idioma del imperio!!

Y bueno reynaldo, que cabeza de guebo eres tu!! criticando a boli-nica porque le responde a la gente...bicho! que nulo eres la verdad...estas escribiendo en ingles pa una revista de la elite socialista inglesa y vas a venir a hablar de los mayameros!! que desgracia eres!! una soberana cagada, lo peor es que seguro has ido a miami y mas de una vez!!

pela el ojo!! que la coalicion rebelde te va a dar guataco...

saludos!!

all the best

cocoloco

[Henry]

Reinaldo: I don't see the "fight" against corruption and bureaucracy. What I see is:

1- Criminals (terrorists) pardoned by the President (Helmeyer and Del Nogal), enriching themselves. Does the President know? Of course, he got them out of jail!

2- Bureaucracy growing every day. Requirements? Not to have signed "against the President", wear a red shirt. Qualified people need not apply.

Reinaldo, if you are serious in fighting against corruption and bureaucracy, break with Chávez and chavismo. They are EXACTLY like the adecos of CAP. Cosmetic changes (red color, anthems to Ché) don't count.

[Henry]

@ Reinaldo: ¿Ignorante? No sé, mi pana. ¿Tú viviste la "experiencia" de CAP?

[Boli-Nica]

Déjame aclararte algo: chavista que se respeta no discute con antichavista mayamero. Es una cuestión de principios hermano, qué se le va a hacer.
.............
Mire hermano, pongase vivo. Eso de Mayamero esto y Chavista eso no tiene relevancia alguna.
Lo del nick, soy Boli: por Boliviano y Nica: De Nicaraguense. Vivi bajo dictatores de derecha, izquierda, y uno que otro electo. Tengo como 30 a~os ir y venir de Miami. He trabajado en asuntos comerciales y de finanzas. EN OTRAS PALABRAS NO NACI AYER.

Ustedes creen que ese su Chavismo es nuevo?? Detras de las consignas, na' que ver papa.
Moderno es, porque usa tecnicas de medios y de control efectivos.
Pero es un hibrido, me recuerda el personalismo y habilidad cinica a ciertos negocios de Omar Torrijos, con el discurso rimbonbante y la ineptitud internacional de los Sandinistas, la colonizacion total del aparato del estado del PRI, la oposicion controlada como la tenia Tacho Somoza, la distribucion rentista de CAP, el funcionarismo de Bolivia, La corrupcion officialista de Costa Rica, con el ejercito tan leal como el de Pinochet.

Lo mejor de Latinoamerica!!!

La regla general que he aprendido, ES QUE TODOS ROBAN. Entre MAS PODER y control pones en menos manos ROBAN AUN MAS Punto y aparte. Y EL QUE ROBA EN LATINOAMERICA SE LO TRAE A MIAMI. Y EL DINERO HACE AMIGOS DEL PEOR ENEMIGO.

Y en el Chavismo se roba y se distribuyen los "chavos" como dicen los boriquas, a los amigos del oficialismo. Como dice el immortal Pete Townsend, "Meet the new boss, same as the old boss." Al MIR en Bolivia cuando paso de izquierda clandestina y exiliada a gobierno, las malas lenguas decian que se convirtio en el MIR-subishi, tantos funcionarios contentos con su flamante automovil.

Y cuando te ganas tus primeros pesitos..de esos que no puedes depositar por control de divisas que haces??? Un carrito pana. Y cuando ves que la cajita de los "Chaves-Chavos" ya va pasando los 100,000 USD, que hace? Pues se habla con la gente que tiene habito de hacer estas cosas. Los mismos ladrones de siempre, con cuentas ya en los EEUU. Por una comision feliz de la vida le hacen el favorcito.

Que el sea Mayamista, y ud. Chavista...Nah... 'tonces todos son capitalistas.