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

From the occupation of land by landless campesinos to the redistribution of the country’s resources, the class struggle in Venezuela takes many forms. But one of its clearest expressions is the efforts by workers to seize control of the means of production directly.

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.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/audio/15584

The Venezuelan government has announced the full payment of public sector education workers' vacation bonuses following a string of protests across the country.

Public sector trade unions celebrated the measure as a “first victory” but stated that protests would continue until authorities attend to all of their petitions.

The vacation bonus is only one of a long list of demands that have led to weeks of constant mobilizations in Caracas and other cities. Since early July, public sector pensioners, nurses, teachers, and university workers have been on the streets to reject a controversial ONAPRE directive that flattens salary scales, overrides collective bargaining rights and reduces a number of benefits, such as healthcare, loans and wage bonuses for experience or education level.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15585

The Asian giant started importing Venezuelan petcoke in 2022 after previously relying on the US and Saudi Arabia as suppliers.

The Venezuelan exports have hovered around US $220 per tonne, some 5 to 10 percent below market price, as Caracas seeks international trade partners while heavily targeted by US sanctions.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15586

Following Petro’s electoral triumph, the two countries began to look for the best routes to rebuild and reshape relations after years of hostilities and cut-off communication. Only three days after the election, Petro talked to President Nicolás Maduro talked on the phone and publicly announced a common disposition to normalize the countries’ 2.219-kilometer shared border.

For his part, Maduro congratulated the newly elected Colombian president on behalf of the Venezuelan people and that the phone conversation focused on peace and a prosperous future for both peoples.

The first conversation between Petro and Maduro set the tone to get rid of barriers, spurred by US interests in the region, that blocked normal political and economic ties.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/around-world-60-days/15587

The Venezuelan gov't has begun addressing some of the workers' demands following massive labor protests across the country for higher wages.

Venezuela is currently experiencing a slow recovery process after years of economic crisis under US sanctions (which are still in place).

Former Brazilian President Luiz Inácio “Lula” da Silva rejected the recognition of opposition figure Juan Guaidó as president of Venezuela, calling him an “imposter”, and said he would instead honor the “self-determination” of the Venezuelan people.

The leftist Workers Party (PT) candidate also called on both Europe and the United States to restore ties with Venezuela, saying he felt encouraged by the recent efforts at rapprochement by the Joe Biden administration. However, he added that he hoped it was not merely motivated by geopolitical concerns over oil supply.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15588

On August 19, US District Judge Carl Nichols issued a default judgment in favor of ConocoPhillips to collect on a US $8.5 billion arbitration award plus around $22 million for reimbursement of legal costs after the Venezuelan so-called “interim government” failed to appear in court for more than two years. The default claim was entered by the court in October 2021.

The Nicolás Maduro government had carried out the country’s legal defense in its most important international arbitration award case until Washington recognized opposition leader Juan Guaidó’s self-proclamation as “interim president” in January 2019. This saw the hardline politician receive control of a number of Venezuelan assets abroad as well as assume the country's legal representation before US courts.

In December 2019, Guaidó’s legal team applied to ICSID for a stay of enforcement on the ConocoPhillips arbitration award and requested its annulment, prompting the court to name an ad hoc committee. However, the opposition leader’s lawyers never paid in advance for litigation costs as required by ICSID regulations and abandoned courtrooms altogether ever since.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15589

Siemens’ business manager in Venezuela, Eric Soto, stated that the German company would begin by working on two gas and diesel combustion facilities that could supply as much as 1,000 Megawatts (MW) to the capital Caracas. It would address the electrical infrastructure used by the oil industry as well.

The Caribbean nation’s power generation and distribution infrastructure has suffered from a lack of maintenance, corruption and a brain drain, with the issues heavily compounded by wide-reaching US sanctions.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15590

The ratio between the US dollar and Venezuelan bolívar registered unofficially by a number of exchange operators soared from 6.95 on Monday to 9.33 on Thursday, forcing the Venezuelan Central Bank (BCV) to take emergency measures.

According to unofficial reports, the Central Bank provided US $300 million in two separate operations. While the parallel rate fell by 8.2 percent on Friday, the official one was steadily devalued during the week, from 6.18 bolívars per dollar on Monday to 7.85 on Friday, a 27 percent difference.

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab urged “speculators” to adhere to the figure published by the BCV and promised “exemplary sanctions” against private actors operating with the black market figure. However, retailers could avoid any issues by simply adjusting prices in bolívars.

For his part, President Nicolás Maduro called on the people to “not allow businesses to rob them with the parallel dollar.” He also warned traders to stick to the official exchange rate, reminding them that “it follows the rules of the market” and “has been working well.”

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15591

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro expressed his solidarity with Cristina Fernández de Kirchner and issued a scathing denunciation of the lawfare campaign against the former Argentine president and current vice-president.

“I want to express my absolute solidarity in the midst of this fierce combat you are waging against the enemies of your country,” wrote Maduro in a letter dated Wednesday.

The letter came shortly after Argentine prosecutor Diego Luciani announced he was seeking 12 years of imprisonment and the political disqualification of public office for life for Fernández de Kirchner over her alleged involvement in a corruption scheme during her time as president (2007-2015).

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15592

Venezuelan Attorney General Tarek William Saab has announced a new corruption probe against former oil minister Rafael Ramírez after unveiling another alleged multi-billion dollar scheme in state oil company PDVSA.

On Tuesday, current Oil Minister Tareck El Aissami delivered several documents to the Attorney General’s Office reportedly proving the deviation of US $4.850 billion from PDVSA to two foreign funds between 2012-2013, at the end of Ramírez's tenure in the oil industry.

El Aissami called the newly exposed fraud “the most serious corruption scheme committed against our state oil company.” He likewise accused his predecessor of being "directly responsible for [Venezuela's] oil industry crisis," later aggravated by US sanctions.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15593

Ever since US President James Monroe adumbrated his infamous Doctrine in 1823, claiming the Western Hemisphere as the US’s ‘sphere of influence’, subordinated to US interests, the US has assailed the region’s autonomy, recently with much assistance from Canada. Barring upsets like the Cuban and Nicaraguan revolutions, the US appeared to be winning until the 21st century. However, the “pink tide” inspired by indomitable Cuba, that has since surged has tilted the balance of power against the US and Canada.

Venezuelanalysis co-sponsored this webinar discussing the decline of the Monroe Doctrine. Check it out! 👇

https://venezuelanalysis.com/video/15594

US oil giant Chevron has reportedly applied for a broader license for its Venezuela operations.

With the Venezuelan economy and the oil sector in particular under heavy unilateral sanctions from the US Treasury Department, all activities involving the Caribbean nation require special permission from Washington.

Chevron has a minimal license that runs out in November, allowing the company to perform maintenance on its wells but not drill, process or trade in Venezuelan crude. The company was forced to wind down its operations in 2020.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15595

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro condemned the assassination attempt against Argentine Vice-president Cristina Fernández de Kircher and expressed his solidarity with the Argentine people.

Fernández de Kircher was fired upon by an assailant, later identified as 35-year-old Fernando Andres Sabag Montiel, as she returned home Thursday. Police stated that the attacker used an Argentine-made 32-caliber Bersa 380 pistol. Video of the incident showed Sabag raising the gun a very short distance from Fernández de Kircher and pulling the trigger as he aimed at the vice-president.

Maduro, who himself survived an assassination attempt with explosive-laden drones in 2018, expressed concern over the regional implications of the attack against Fernández de Kircher.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15596

"I know that many of these people who don’t tolerate disagreements are noble, smart and committed. They believe in a better country and work for it, but they are frightened to entertain the thought that certain things are happening that have nothing to do with the Bolivarian Process. They are not even willing to discuss which setbacks are forced by the US blockade and which ones are not. We’re losing spaces to debate, to question, and this was always at the heart of Chavismo."

Amidst a deadly US blockade, VA columnist Jessica Dos Santos finds a worrying intolerance for debate and criticism amidst Chavista ranks.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/tales-resistance/15597

Human trafficking is a worldwide phenomenon, but poor racialized women and girls from the Global South are particularly vulnerable. When the crisis began to reach every corner of working-class life in Venezuela, human trafficking networks took root in the territory.

Venezuela has laws in place to combat human trafficking, and the General Attorney’s Office has taken some steps to address the problems, but the situation remains critical.

We talked to Yelena Carpio, Legal Coordinator for Tinta Violeta – a Chavista organization that promotes networks against machista violence – about human trafficking in Venezuela.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/15598

The Barranquilla Chamber of Commerce suspended the registration of a new board of directors for Monómeros, named by Venezuela’s state-owned Pequiven, after an appeal from acting General Manager Guillermo Rodríguez Laprea.

The move by Rodríguez, who was tapped by the Venezuelan opposition to run the company in January 2021, is the latest chapter in a long running saga over the management of Venezuela’s second-most important foreign asset.

The Colombia-based agrochemical producer came under the control of Venezuela’s hardline opposition in May 2019—alongside a number of other foreign assets—following the recognition of Juan Guaidó as “interim president” by Washington and its allies as part of efforts to oust the Nicolás Maduro government.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15599

Venezuela continues struggling to sustain oil and fuel output following operational disruptions in crude upgraders and blending stations.

According to the latest Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) report, the Caribbean nation pumped 678,000 barrels per day (bpd) in August, similar to July’s 672,000 bpd, as measured by secondary sources.

In the first half of 2022, Caracas had maintained a steady growth reaching an average of 760,000 bpd. However, frequent mechanical failures as well as power outages and gas disruptions have slowed down operations in recent months.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/news/15601

Miguel Ángel Contreras Naterra teaches sociology at Venezuela’s Central University. His recent books include Insurgent Imaginaries and Postneoliberalism in Latin America (Stanford University Press, 2013) and Crítica de la razón neoliberal (Critique of Neoliberal Reason, Akal, 2015). In this interview, we talk about an ideological constellation – made up of neoliberalism, post-neoliberalism, and post-liberalism – that has had a huge impact on the continent.

https://venezuelanalysis.com/interviews/15600