FIDEL: Absolute Transparency in Venezuelan Elections

[magbana]

Reflections by comrade Fidel

http://www.cuba.cu/gobierno/reflexiones/2008/ing/f241108i.html

ABSOLUTE TRANSPARENCY

Who can doubt it? Observers from all parts and varying shades have
attended the elections in Venezuela on November 23, 2007. They have
reported with absolute freedom. The oligarchy cried out like mad to
the world the coarse slander that the extension of the voting hours
at the polling stations, giving the citizens the possibility to cast
their vote, was intended to commit fraud, even though the National
Election Council had previously decided to do so and had announced
it.

This is a correct measure when adopted by the United States to
facilitate the indirect election of the President of that nation,
which is the model for the Venezuelan oligarchy, but it is wrong in
Venezuela, even though these are not presidential elections, which
are direct elections, the same as all the others for executive
positions.

The only thing honorable and clean to them is the contemptible
submission to the empire, the flight of capital amounting to billions
of dollars every year, and the prevalence of poverty, illiteracy and
over 20% unemployment.

I would not dare utter an opinion with regards to any other country
of this hemisphere, if I forgot that we are brothers and that Marti,
who fought and died for Cuba and for Our America, said one day as he
stood before the statue of the Liberator Simon Bolivar: “Venezuela
only needs to tell me what to do for her, for I am her son.”

At the moment, 40 thousand highly qualified compatriots are working
in that sister nation. They are willing to give their lives for
Bolivar’s people with which they share the risks of an imperialist
sweeping blow.

I am not an intruder giving an opinion in the country of the
Bolivarian Alternative for the Americas (ALBA).

Venezuela has the potential to become a model of socialist
development with the resources formerly extracted by the
multinationals from its rich nature and the efforts of it manual and
intellectual workers. No foreign power shall determine its future.
The people are the masters of their destiny and they march on to
attain the highest levels of education, culture, health and full
employment. It is an example to be pursued by other sister nations in
this hemisphere and it does not give up: it does not wish to lag
behind a plundering empire. Venezuela rightly claims with dignity
that the UN General Assembly should design a new international
financial structure, and Cuba supports it in that endeavor.

Reading the international news, it would seem that the USS R
disintegrated just yesterday. As Stella Calloni would say, this
Monday the media terror spin broke loose. But after the storm has
passed, the truth will come up again.

Yesterday’s elections meant a qualitative step forward for the
Bolivarian revolutionary process that can be measured by many
aspects. It was not as the massive disinformation machinery would
have it: “Castro says that the Revolution in Venezuela will continue
despite the elections.” No, it’s not that! But rather that an
analysis of the basic data provided by the National Election Council
in its bulletins showed me clearly the great victory that has been
attained.

The data were precise; an unquestionable victory of the candidates to
governors in 17 of the 22 states, all of these members of the
Venezuelan Socialist United Party. The voter turnout was higher
than ever; 1.5 million more votes than those obtained by the
opponents running for such positions, and 264 posts of mayor of the
328 up for election. There is no opposition party but a group of
oppositionists with half a dozen parties, and absolute transparency.
That’s why I said and now repeat that it will be very difficult to
put out the flames of the Revolution in Venezuela.

Fidel Castro Ruz
November 24, 2008
6:35 p.m.

[EFerrari]

1. Andale, mi gente.

:cry: