CARACAS, Venezuela (ViaNews) – One week after the presidential elections and Venezuelans keep making the same questions over again. What’s being done to improve the Venezuelan economy and what’s being done to tackle hyperinflation?
After the Venezuelan presidential elections held on May 20, socialist President Maduro was reelected until the end of 2024. According to the official numbers, the turnout at the Venezuelan presidential election was 46% and Maduro’s over six million votes resulted in a 67% win. Henri Falcón came in second with 20%. Some countries, including China’s Xi Jinping, have already congratulated President Maduro for his new term.
President´s Maduro’s six strategies for Venezuela
When swearing-in at the National Constituent Assembly, President Maduro, announced his strategies for Venezuela’s immediate future, which would get Venezuela out of the present economic and political crisis.
1. Stronger Democratic Dialogue and Freeing of Political Prisoners
The President´s first line is to open his government to a great national dialogue with all the democratic forces, which includes liberating those who are in prison for terrorist actions during the violent demonstrations held during 2014-2017. Freedom will not be granted to those who have produced deaths or major injuries.
Following his announcement, Mr. Maduro had a meeting in the MIraflores Presidential Palace with the visiting Senator Bob Corker, chairman of the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Mr. Maduro ordered the release of Joshua Holt, who was caught in 2016 in possession of military weapons.
Bob Corker and Mr. Holt arrived in Washington the same day, where they met President Trump at 7 PM.
US Vice-President Mike Pence declared that no economic sanctions would be eased, even after Mr. Holt´s release.
2. Stronger Economic Ties
Economic agreements with industry and commerce to achieve growth and economic stability.
3. Corruption
Fight against corruption.
4. Cheap Food And Medicine
Protection of the people, through the implementation of the “patriotic card”, and similar programs, to facilitate the distribution of food and medicine at low subsidized prices.
5. Defense
Defense of the Nation and its people against the alleged conspiracies coming from inside and abroad.
6. Socialism
Ratify the way to socialism, and consider the five dimensions of the Twenty-First Century Socialism: Ethical, political, ideological, institutional and territorial.
Understanding Venezuela Today: From US Best Provider to National Threat
The criticism
No comments from opposition leaders have yet been made. The historian and leftist intellectual and writer, Luis Britto García, not being an oppositionist but usually critical to the Government, did not analyze Maduro´s six strategies for Venezuela. He stressed, however, there are many things that should be done immediately such as explaining who are the beneficiaries of the, yet to be seen, US $60 billion fund for food and medicine, and how the goods are smuggled to Colombia through a border controlled by the Armed Forces.
Most of the medicine and food the Government has bought and is trying to receive are allegedly stopped by the US blockade, which allegedly hinders payment flow to providers.
The U.S. and the E.U. are considering the Venezuelan oppositionist politics pledge for “humanitarian help” to solve the lack of essential goods. A lack which might allegedly be intensified by the sanctions of those same countries.
Why is the Colombian presidential election important for Venezuela?
Venezuela’s neighbor country, Colombia, has a presidential election to be held in less than a week time, on Sunday, May 27.
Colombian elections results were very tight between Ivan Duque, the winner with 40%, and Gustavo Petro with 25%. Since Colombian candidates need 50% or more to win, in June, Colombia will have to vote again for the presidency.
The winner of the Colombian elections is important for the stability of the Venezuelan economy since almost 40% of the goods produced or imported by Venezuela are “lost” into Colombia by “extraction smugglers”. The eventual winning by the leftist Gustavo Petro might mean better news for Venezuela in the future, although Petro has referred Mr. Maduro as a dictator. Colombia election is also very important to Venezuelans because during the oil boom, at the beginning of 20th century, nearly 6 million Colombians entered Venezuela as immigrants and there are many families with members on both sides of the border.
What the future holds for Venezuela
Some argue that Venezuela is submerged in the fourth generation warfare, a conflict distinguished by a blurring of the lines between war and politics, combatants and civilians. It’s not easy to draw a line between Information and propaganda. In the end, it’s also hard to understand if these are Maduro’s real strategies to rebuild Venezuela or if other hidden strategies are being implemented.
However, Venezuelans appear to remain loyal and waiting for solutions to their every day’s needs, possibly hoping that the slow and steady rise of oil prices can translate into increased well being to all Venezuelans.