Venezuelanalysis Podcast

On November 21, Venezuela will hold its 27th election since Chávez came to power, critically this will be the first time since 2015 that Chavismo will face most of the opposition in an electoral contest after the self-styled Group of Four parties finally abandoned their boycott strategy.

The third episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast looks at the upcoming “mega elections” in Venezuela where over 70,000 candidates will vie for 3,082 positions. Apart from deciding regional authorities such as governors and mayors, the election will determine the fate of political gridlock in Venezuela.

Host José Luis Granados Ceja talks to fellow VA member Paul Dobson about the issues in this election and the state of Chávez’s model of a participatory democracy. We also hear from Venezuelan writer and theorist Reinaldo Iturriza, author of the book “El Chavismo Salvaje” and former Minister of the Communes and of Culture. Iturriza talks to VA about the potential for a reawakening of the Bolivarian grassroots and the return of the radical, US-backed wing of the opposition into the democratic process.

Music:

Embandolaos - Los Caimanes Negros

Uh Ah, Chávez No Se Va

The corporate media coverage of Venezuela has always placed its focus on Chávez and Maduro, what the government did or said. This narrative, and the respective counter-narrative, ignore one key element of the Bolivarian Process: popular power.

The second episode of the Venezuelanalysis podcast focuses on grassroots organizations under conditions of duress: a years-long economic crisis and devastating US sanctions.

Host José Luis Granados Ceja first talks to fellow VA member Cira Pascual Marquina on how communes, described by Chávez as the “unit cell” for the construction of socialism, have survived, or even thrived, in the current context. We also feature young communard leader Jesús García from the Altos de Lídice Socialist Commune in Caracas. García talks about how a commune works, the contradictions that emerge with the state and how popular organizations are best suited to address people’s problems.

Music:

Embandolaos - Los Caimanes Negros

Gino González - Todos nosotros con Chávez

In this episode we take a look at the impact of US-led sanctions against Venezuela. We’ll speak with UN Special Rapporteur Alena Douhan on the negative impact of the unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/

Music:

Embandolaos - Los Caimanes Negros

Javier Marin - Llanto

Sandino Primera - Cómo Quisera Olvidarte