Venezuelan Socialist Blames Hugo For The Disaster

Venezuelan Socialist Blames Hugo For The Disaster / 14ymedio
Posted on January 25, 2016

14ymedio, Havana, 25 January 2016 — "We reject the infamy of trying to
create a similarity between socialism and the Chavez model," says an
article published this Sunday by the Venezuelan journalist Leon Moraria
on the site Aporrea, a digital page that is defined as a space
identified with "the process of revolutionary and democratic
transformation" in Venezuela.

Moraria's article joins others that have appeared on the site with
strong critiques from the Venezuelan left of Nicolas Maduro's
management. Moraria, also a social activist and defender of the rights
of miners, called for putting a name on the failed model that has
brought the oil-rich country to a deep economic and social crisis.

The writer refers to the recent speeches of the deputies in the National
Assembly, of the opposition majority, in which they make constant
refernces to the ineptitude of the current system. A situation that
Moraria exemplifies with figures such as the 76% increase in poverty,
galloping annual inflation that exceeds 300%, and an unemployment rate
of over 50%, which condemns the majority of Venezuelans to working in
the informal economy.

The enumeration of the Venezuelan disaster includes, according to the
socialist, the shortage of some 60% in products that make up the daily
diet; the paralyzation of more than 60% of urban and interurban transit
for lack of parts, tires, abd batteries, as well as small and medium
industry paralyzed by lack of raw materials, and agriculture abandoned
for lack of inputs.

So Moraria questions whether the "described disaster" is "manna from
heaven" or the consequences of a "failed economic model." A question
that he responds to by affirming that the situation "did not exist 17
year ago," and "did not arise by chance nor because of domestic
businesses nor imperialism," but "is caused the government itself."

His harsh critiques join those of former Chavez followers, such as
Javier Antonio Vivas Santana, who in December called for the resignation
of Nicolas Maduro in an article also published in Aporrea. On that
occasion, the author of the article predicted that if the resignation
does not occur, the Venezuelan leaders could "kill the Bolivarian
revolution."

Moraria believes that "devaluing the currency is the best factory of
poverty yet invented." A situation that the government decorates "with
gifts, subsidies for everything (gas, food, medicine), plus
political/populist handouts financed by oil revenues," but that, "is not
underpinned by economic development, as it should be."

The activitist is incisive when noting that these "subsidies are turned
unto alms, confusing social justice with charity," and he passionately
affirms that, "Charity is not socialism! Socialism is revolutionary
transformation!"

The article reaches its highest level of criticism when he says that
this "economic disaster has a name and surname: Hugo Chavez, the
Chavismo ideologue, based on demagogic populism, 'hyper-leadership' and
a cult of personality." A political ideology adorned "with Bible quotes,
Bolivarians, Marxists, Christian Socialists, fascists, neo-Nazis,
militarists, in a very peculiar ideological syncretism."

"The economic disaster is the legacy of Chavez," concludes Moraria, who
believes that the deterioration Venezuela is experiencing is "so
perfect, so well prepared" that it could only be the work of a "genius"
like the "eternal commander." A president that governs "with enabling
laws, approved by a complacent unanimity or by a parliamentary
majority," he adds.

The left-wing journalist notes that the current Venezuelan government
"is not revolutionary, nor Bolivarian, much less socialist." He sees it
a system of the military, "with the military and for the military," and
warns that "it is a disgrace to say that Chavismo is socialism."

Source: Venezuelan Socialist Blames Hugo For The Disaster / 14ymedio |
Translating Cuba -
http://translatingcuba.com/venezuelan-socialist-blames-hugo-for-the-disaster-14ymedio/