According to inside sources cited by Argus Media and Bloomberg, Chevron is proposing to Caracas a reduction of the Venezuelan state’s stake in joint ventures. By owning a majority of shares, Chevron would possibly avoid the Treasury sanctions that ban dealings with entities where PDVSA or other state entities hold a 50 percent or larger stake.

However, Venezuela’s 2001 Hydrocarbon Law, created under the Hugo Chávez government, requires majority ownership for PDVSA and sets a 51 percent minimum state stake in all joint ventures with foreign partners.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15566

Venezuelan public sector trade unions rallied on Tuesday to demand higher salaries and respect for labor rights.

The march in central Caracas took aim at a directive issued by the country’s National Budget Office (ONAPRE), a body belonging to the finance ministry that establishes budgets for state institutions.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15567

Venezuela entered a profound economic crisis beginning in 2014. There are many heated debates about its origins and causes. Among the most recent contributions to these debates is Malfred Gerig, a young researcher who has written extensively about economic and political issues. His soon-to-be-published book La Larga Depresión Venezolana [The Long Venezuelan Depression], pinpoints the origins of the crisis in a closing cycle of capital accumulation that was based on oil exports.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/15565

The Venezuelan National Assembly unanimously condemned recent comments by former US National Security Advisor John Bolton where he boasted about his involvement in coup plots against the government of Nicolás Maduro.

In an interview with CNN’s Jake Tapper, Bolton claimed he “helped plan coups d’etat” and when pressed for an example, pointed to his chapter on Venezuela in his book The Room Where It Happened.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15568

Venezuelan athlete Yulimar Rojas was unstoppable once again as she became the first woman to win three successive triple jump gold medals at the World Championships (WCH).

On Monday, the 26-year-old took the gold medal in the women’s triple jump final at the 2022 World Athletics Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Rojas opened the contest with a modest 14.60m mark and immediately sealed the victory in her second attempt with an impressive 15.47m jump, the sixth-best mark in her career.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15570

"The meeting between the Pobladoras Movement and President Nicolás Maduro made crystal clear the urgent need for street mobilization, for unifying the organized pueblo, and the extraordinary importance of popular critique."

A recent Pobladoras rally left several achievements and lessons. Reinaldo Iturriza breaks it down.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/politics-commons/15571

President Nicolás Maduro visited the Villa Zamora 2021 community in Miranda state in order to deliver restitution to families whose houses and crops were destroyed during an eviction attempt in April.

The April 12 raid, allegedly ordered by opposition mayor Raziel Rodríguez to favor a local corporation, saw law enforcement agents burst into the Villa Zamora 2021 plot, destroying houses and razing crops.

During the visit Friday where Maduro delivered newly built housing and deeds to six affected families, he declared that “justice” had been done in the case. The homes were built as part of the government’s Great Housing Mission project, which has delivered over four million homes to low-income families.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15572

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro warned about "last minute terrorist threats" from the outgoing Iván Duque government in Colombia.

During a ceremony to designate new military commands on Tuesday, Maduro called the Bolivarian National Armed Forces (FANB) to remain vigilant in the face of new violent plots allegedly being prepared in the neighboring country.

"Alert, always be alert, to protect the peace of the republic, last minute terrorist threats are coming from Bogotá against our beloved Homeland,” denounced the mandatary in a live broadcast from the Fuerte Tiuna military base in Caracas.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15573

Hugo Chávez was born in the small town of Sabaneta on July 28, 1954. Often remembered as a man of action and long speeches, Chávez was in fact a great strategist, a tremendous pedagogue and a creative thinker.

In this infographic, we highlight five of his guiding ideas: participative and protagonistic democracy, Bolivarianism and the “Patria Grande,” anti-imperialism, socialism, and the communal future.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15574

Revolutionary leader Hugo Chávez was an extraordinary communicator and a committed socialist. His knowledge and sense of humor made every speech memorable.

Today, Chávez would have turned 68. He will be forever missed but never forgotten as his legacy stays alive in every revolutionary project and antiimperialist struggle.

Venezuelans celebrated Chávez's 68th birthday yesterday. We had the (bold!) idea of trying to boil down the main aspects of his political vision and legacy in a neat infographic. Download and share it widely!

Venezuelan authorities have blasted the latest court ruling in the struggle for control over 31 tonnes of gold stored in the Bank of England (BoE).

On Friday, the High Court of England and Wales decided in favor of opposition politician Juan Guaidó and dismissed a new effort by the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) to regain control over the reserves worth an estimated US $1.7 billion.

Caracas had brought to court the Venezuelan Supreme Court decrees stating that the parallel BCV board appointed by the US-backed opposition was illegal. However, judge Sara Cockerill decreed that the British Court could not recognize the rulings made by Venezuela’s highest judicial instance.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15575

Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister Carlos Faría signed a joint declaration Thursday with his future Colombian counterpart Álvaro Leyva as part of efforts by the two countries to normalize binational relations following the victory of Gustavo Petro in June presidential elections.

President Nicolás Maduro praised the “successful and virtuous” encounter that was carried out in the “spirit of Bolívar,” in reference to the 19th century independence leader who sought to create a united Latin America.

The declaration reaffirms the commitment of Venezuela and Colombia to appoint ambassadors and other diplomatic and consular staff once the incoming Petro government takes office on August 7.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15576

The Venezuelan Foreign Ministry has condemned US House of Representatives Speaker Nancy Pelosi's two-day visit to Taiwan, calling it a "direct provocation” and a “serious threat” to China's “sovereignty and territorial integrity.

“We reaffirmed our unrestricted adherence to the One China principle and the recognition of Taiwan as an inalienable part of China’s territory,” reads the communique, which highlighted Caracas and Beijing’s strong ties of friendship, cooperation and solidarity as well as their “strategic partnership,” launched in 2001 under the Hugo Chávez government.

Although the White House has insisted that Washington’s position regarding the One China policy has not changed, in May President Joe Biden told the press that the US would defend Taiwan militarily in case of Chinese intervention. House Speaker Pelosi has now added fuel to the fire by disregarding Beijing’s protest over her visit which included a televised meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15577

Venezuela's apparent "normalcy" is not all it seems, argues Jessica Dos Santos:

I would dare say that even those of us who realize the economic improvements are built on huge social inequalities try to convince ourselves: “recovery had to start somewhere,” “in the long run more economic activity will be to everyone’s benefit,” “it’s not different anywhere else.” The situation was so critical that just a bit of air is a big relief.

Truth be told, I think we also want to feel part of this progress, because we stuck around, suffered the pain of loved ones leaving, struggled mightily, tried new business ideas, and put our sweat and tears into everything, so we deserve this damn coffee in the damn hacienda of yesteryear’s elites.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/tales-resistance/15578

Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro denounced a US attempt to seize a Venezuelan state-owned aircraft.

A Boeing 747-300 owned by Emtrasur landed at Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires on June 6. Two days later, the airplane was controversially denied permission to land and refuel in Montevideo while in midair. After its forced return to the Argentinian capital it was grounded by local authorities.

“The US wants to steal a plane that legally belongs to Venezuela. The order is coming from an imperial court in Florida,” Maduro said during a televised broadcast on Wednesday.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15579

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro celebrated the inauguration of Gustavo Petro as president of Colombia, with leaders pledging to rebuild the long but fraught relationship between the two Caribbean countries.

“I extend my hand to the people of Colombia, to President Gustavo Petro, to rebuild fellowship on the basis of respect and love between peoples,” said Maduro on Sunday.

For his part, Petro called for Latin American governments to leave aside their political differences and work toward regional integration.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15580

The Venezuelan Ministry of Culture organized the “International Festival of Progressive Theater” (FITP) from July 29 to August 7.

Culture Minister Ernesto Villegas stated that the “progressive” label was a nod to leftist governments that have taken power in Latin America recently and added that cultural initiatives, theater in particular, would continue in the coming months.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/images/15581

Venezuela’s oil output and exports have receded following a series of operational setbacks while recently renewed shipments to Europe have been reportedly halted.

Anonymous sources revealed that PDVSA is reportedly negotiating the terms of the oil-for-debt agreements with Eni and Repsol to receive fuel while still settling long-standing debts owed to the two companies.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15582

🎙️ In the tenth episode of the Venezuelanalysis Podcast, the subject is workers' control!

We look at the history of these struggles to democratize factories and workplaces, their characteristics and the challenges they face.

➡️ Subscribe and listen now: patreon.com/posts/venezuelanalysis-70522241

Colombian President Gustavo Petro took another important step toward restoring institutional ties with Caracas with the return of Monómeros, a subsidiary of Venezuela’s state-owned Pequiven, to the hands of the Maduro government.

Last Monday, the Maduro government appointed a new board of directors of Monómeros, submitting the documentation to the Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce, where the enterprise is headquartered.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15583