The Venezuelan economy wrapped up 2023 on a positive note, boasting reduced inflation and a stabilizing exchange rate. According to the Venezuelan Central Bank, monthly price increases have been in single digits for the past nine months, culminating in an accumulated inflation of 190%

President Nicolás Maduro attributes this economic upswing to coordinated efforts among various sectors. In an exclusive interview with Ignacio Ramonet, he highlighted growth in agriculture (5%), manufacturing (4%), retail (4%), fishing (25%), and aquaculture (20%). The positive momentum also showed in a 25.8% increase in tax collection.

Despite these strides, challenges persist, including a lingering threat of sanctions limiting foreign investment. The Maduro administration has pursued liberal economic policies, including tax breaks and state asset concessions, to attract private capital. However, skepticism remains among foreign investors.

Economist Juan Carlos Valdez warns of increasing inequality in the recovery and advocates for an indexation policy, tying public sector wages to inflation markers. He argues that enhancing spending power can stimulate economic growth.

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3S1tayI

President Maduro outlines a major political initiative for Venezuela's sustainable economic recovery in his annual address to the National Assembly. The plan focuses on economic modernization, political independence, safety, social issues, political participation, the environment, and geopolitics.

Despite economic challenges and US sanctions, Venezuela saw a 5% GDP increase in 2023 and has a target of 8% growth in 2024. Efforts include economic diversification to reduce reliance on oil.

Acknowledging inflation's impact, Maduro doubled the "economic war bonus" for public sector workers, indexed to the US dollar, although facing criticism for not impacting formal wages.

Read the full article at https://bit.ly/3S2zANZ

Next in line to ramp up purchases of Venezuelan crude is India. ONGC Videsh Limited (OVL), the overseas arm of India’s state-owned Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd. (ONGC), is currently in negotiations with PDVSA to receive cargoes between January and March.

The shipments will offset a reported $600 million debt, including interests, accrued during the US sanctions period. According to India’s petroleum secretary, Pankaj Jain, the company is waiting for date confirmation to begin lifting oil.

OVL holds a 40 percent stake in the San Cristobal field, located in the Orinoco Oil Belt, with PDVSA holding the remaining 60 percent. Before US sanctions, India was an active buyer of Venezuelan crude, importing approximately 300,000 barrels per day, mostly by India’s largest refiner Reliance Industries. Since 2021, the company has been pressing the US government for a license to resume imports.

Read more 👇

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-boosts-crude-exports-as-india-resumes-oil-purchases/

Two years ago Ángel Prado, the main spokesperson of El Maizal, won a difficult battle to become mayor of Simón Planas, which is the municipality comprising most of El Maizal along with 11 other communes.

"El Maizal embodies the communal way of life, which is based on seeking innovative methods and political approaches to create a better world," says Prado.

In this interview, Prado discusses his efforts in conjugating constituted power with the longstanding project of developing communal power.

Read the full interview here 👇🏽

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/the-dialectics-of-constituted-and-communal-power-a-conversation-with-angel-prado/

Los Tramojos campesinos face devastation following a widespread fire. They point the finger at a powerful local landowner.

The Ezequiel Zamora Campesino Council has had a longstanding fight against Elías Chirimelli to secure its right to Los Tramojos. The rural organization demands justice and support from the Nicolás Maduro government.

“We have no doubt that this fire was intentional to hurt us, and it ended up destroying a lot of infrastructure and pasture in the area.” council spokesperson Ramón “Niño” Soto told Venezuelanalysis on Sunday.

Read the full article here 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuelan-campesinos-call-for-support-investigation-after-massive-fire/

At the recent Non-Aligned Movement (NAM) summit in Kampala, Uganda, Venezuela joined 120 nations in condemning Israel's military campaign against the Palestinian people in Gaza. In a powerful 47-point statement, the NAM denounced the illegal aggression, calling for an immediate ceasefire and an end to the occupation.

Venezuelan Minister for Foreign Affairs, Yván Gil, expressed deep concern, stating that Israel's actions aim to "exterminate the Palestinian people," jeopardizing the possibility of a two-state solution. Venezuela has been an unwavering supporter of Palestinian rights, even sending humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Read the full article at https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/venezuela-non-aligned-movement-condemn-israels-illegal-assault-on-gaza/

VA columnist Reinaldo Iturriza revisits the insights of Alí Rodríguez Araque to put Venezuela's political dilemmas in perspective.

“If there’s one thing Rodríguez Araque teaches us, it’s that, under no circumstances, no matter how adverse, should a revolutionary entertain the false dilemma: serve capital or serve the people. Opting for the first option, claiming it’s the only ‘viable path,’ to put it in Rodríguez Araque’s words, is to enter a historical dead-end with no way out.”

Read the full article here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/42bDB7C

International tensions rise as Venezuela points the finger at US-backed plots to destabilize the country. In a televised address on Monday, Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab announced the arrest of 32 people, including civilians and military officers. Additionally, 11 arrest warrants have been issued for opposition activists living abroad and exiled military.

“From May 2023 until now, five violent actions have been attempted against Venezuela. The military officers involved were summoned directly from Colombia, in collaboration with the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Colombian army at the time,” the attorney general told the press.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3udkMEo

Hindu Anderi, a Lebanese-Venezuelan journalist and longstanding Palestinian solidarity activist, discusses the ongoing Israeli genocide in Gaza, Hugo Chávez’s unwavering support for the Palestinian cause, and her own efforts to build a robust solidarity movement against the occupation of Palestine.

“Chávez displayed a great deal of solidarity with the peoples of the world who endure injustices, and particularly the people of Palestine. He was very brave because he didn’t let himself be controlled by the historical blackmail that equates anti-zionism with antisemitism, holocaust denialism, or Nazism. He understood that it’s the other way around: Israel is actually a fascist entity.”

Read the full interview here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/4bq55uD

Venezuela's Economic Landscape: From newfound stability to the pressing challenges ahead.

#VenezuelaEconomy #EconomicInsights

Recent updates from Venezuela's political scene!

The Supreme Court stands firm on María Corina Machado's 15-year disqualification, pointing to alleged corruption ties with former "Interim President" Juan Guaidó. The court emphasized the risks posed to foreign assets, including US-based refiner CITGO and Colombia-based agrochemical firm Monómeros. The ruling also highlighted Machado's support for US-led sanctions.

Learn more at https://bit.ly/3HyWQys

A blend of US aggression and Venezuelan opposition collusion has all but sealed CITGO's destiny.

Discover how Washington and its local allies successfully acquired Venezuela's US-based refiner, valued at US $10-13 billion, by clicking here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/3OkSfn8. View and download the infographic in a single image.

Don't miss out on these insights!

#CITGO #Infographic #milestone

Venezuela is set to lose ownership of its most important foreign asset, with debts far exceeding the company’s valuation.

A Delaware judge approved claims from 18 corporations in the sale of shares belonging to PDV Holding, the parent company of CITGO. The decision marks a pivotal moment in the ongoing legal battle over Venezuela's US-based assets.

Learn more at 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/3u4lq7o

The climate crisis is the central topic in our latest podcast episode. How can Global South countries find strategies to preserve life? Are the solutions on a macro level or built from the grassroots?

Subscribe to listen by following the link: https://www.patreon.com/posts/97453869

The White House has threatened a snap back of sanctions to force María Corina Machado’s inclusion on the presidential ballot.

The US Treasury Department revoked a previous license allowing transactions with Venezuelan state-owned gold mining firm Minerven, effective immediately, allowing only for a winddown of operations.

The announcement from the Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) was followed by a statement from State Department Spokesperson Matthew Miller who warned that limited sanctions relief the Caribbean nation’s energy sector approved in October of last year would not be renewed come April.

Learn more at 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/us-revokes-venezuelan-gold-license-threatens-return-of-oil-sanctions/

🔊 The latest episode of The Venezuelanalysis Podcast is now available!

As we grapple with the ongoing climate crisis, we tackle crucial questions about forging paths forward that avoid worsening global inequalities. For nations like Venezuela, heavily reliant on resource extraction, the challenges become even more complex.

In our latest podcast episode, host José Luis Granados Ceja engages in a discussion with fellow VA member Cira Pascual Marquina and Venezuelan researcher/activist Liliana Buitrago. Together, they explore anti-capitalist strategies against climate change, examining both macro and grassroots level initiatives.

To join this conversation, click here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/48Uhkxv

#VApodcast #podcast #environment

Venezuela Responds to US Ultimatum: National Assembly calls for a dialogue process to establish an electoral route amid Washington's renewed sanctions threats.

“Save yourselves the time-lapse, Yankees. Our response must be to summon everyone, the presidential pre-candidates, the political parties, the electoral movements, business sector, peasants, cultural workers […] to elaborate the electoral calendar,” said AN President Jorge Rodríguez.

Oil Minister Pedro Tellechea stated that “Venezuela is prepared for any circumstance” and warned of consequences, while VP Rodríguez signaled potential suspension of cooperation mechanisms, including deportation flights.

Learn more here 👉🏽 https://bit.ly/484MQYu

#Venezuela #presidentialelections2024 #sanctions

Jessica Dos Santos sheds light on the complexities of economic measures in her "Tales of Resistance" column on @venanalysis!

“Economic stability should never come at the expense of people's well-being," she emphasizes. Jessica explains that improved economic data often fails to translate into living standards.

"Still, when navigating uncertain waters, it is crucial not to lose our compass. What criteria should guide us in determining whether we are moving in the right direction?" The VA columnist questions the celebration of corporate returns or new stores, warning against forgetting the true essence of the Venezuelan project.

Read the full article by clicking here 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/columns/tales-of-resistance-economic-indicators-and-appropriate-yardsticks/

The Communard Union has deployed its “Argelia Laya Brigade” across the country in a bid to strengthen the organization and links between popular power collectives.

Beginning on February 4, the activists are divided into "exploratory" and "permanent" brigades, with the former spending two weeks in specific territories and the latter committing to a six-month presence in priority areas as identified by the Communard Union. Their primary objective is to assess political, social, and economic conditions within the visited communes, aiming to formulate work plans that enhance organizational structures and integrate them into the Communard Union.

Click here to see the gallery 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/venezuela-communard-union-launches-territorial-brigades/

#Venezuela #CommunardUnion #Communes

Recently leaked documents shed light on an alleged illicit operation conducted by the US Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) in Venezuela to build a drug-trafficking case, according to reports from The Associated Press.

The espionage operation coincided with broader US efforts to bring about regime change in Venezuela, as planning began within weeks of the 2018 presidential election that saw Maduro re-elected to a six-year term in Venezuela.

In March 2020, then-US Attorney General William Barr unsealed an indictment against Maduro, alongside 14 other current and former officials, accusing the Venezuelan leader of conspiring with Colombia’s FARC rebels to “flood the United States with cocaine” as far back as 1999. The Venezuelan president fervently rejected the US accusations, while US officials did not publicly provide evidence.

Learn more here 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/leaked-memo-reveals-illegal-dea-operation-in-venezuela/

#Venezuela #DEA #USVenezuelarelations

In her latest column, VA's Andreína Chávez explores the contrast between grassroots feminism and women's demands versus government-led initiatives.

"Growing up, I used to love listening to my mom recalling the day I was born because it resembled an absurd 90s comedy, with weird plot twists and everything. Years later, I realized that despite the funny elements, this was actually another story of how working-class women survive and how their demands go forever unheard.

If you bear with me for just a little bit as I tell my mom’s story, you’ll find out why women’s rights being reduced to an afterthought in Venezuela’s revolutionary struggle has seemingly condemned this working-class liberation process to endless setbacks, with or without US imperialist aggression. One main reason is that we have not overcome our bias against women as reproducers or moved past some bourgeois ideals."

Read the full article by clicking here 👉🏽 https://venezuelanalysis.com/analysis/the-subversive-truth-the-incomplete-feminist-revolution/