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Socialism: a priority for Chávez’
new mandate
BY RONALD SUAREZ RIVAS AND ALBERTO BORREGO AVILA
(PHOTO)
—Granma
daily special correspondents—
CARACAS, January 10.—With the invocation of a
constituent assembly aimed at reforming the
constitution and a call for special legislative
powers to draft legislation to boost the
construction of socialism, Venezuelan President Hugo
Chávez officially began his new six-year mandate.
 Reelected
with more than 62% of the votes in last December’s
elections, Chávez confirmed that he hopes to
accelerate the intensification of the Revolution
and, in this context, reiterated the areas of work
directed at achieving just that.
Besides modifying the constitution and a package of
laws addressing the nationalization of strategic
sectors of the economy such as electricity,
telecommunications and ensuring the country’s
control over its hydrocarbons, the Bolivarian leader
called for a revision of the current
political-administrative division, configuring what
he described as “a new geometry of power” in order
to revert the backward state found in certain
Venezuelan regions today.
He
also suggested the need to stimulate popular
participation in decision-making, giving a greater
role to communal councils and the conception of
government from the street.
At
the same time, he clarified that all transformations
would need the support of the majority and if the
people are opposed to any one of the measures
proposed, he will not hesitate to comply with their
wishes.
A
wave of hope in Nicaragua
BY JOAQUIN RIVERY TUR
AND JUVENAL BALAN (PHOTO) —Granma daily special
correspondents—
A
wave of hope seized the John Paul II Plaza of Faith,
when hundreds of thousands of Sandinista supporters
congregated in the open air to hear the first speech
by Daniel Ortega in his role as Nicaraguan
president.
There was a festive atmosphere amongst the multitude
of Sandino’s people, who have just regained their
spirit of hope. In the human flood that flowed down
Bolívar Ave, Santos Ortega – sharing the same name
as the president and with a child on his shoulders –
responds with a smile: “This is a very important day
for the country. Hope is with them, the Sandinistas,
that there may be work so as to bring home food to
the family. The last few governments didn’t look at
the people. The last 16 years have just been about
suffering.”
The
clamor was truly dramatic in terms of the constant
repetition of desires that have been left wanting.
Such as that of Ana Bravo, who wants her children to
have a better future, to be able to study and have
access to medicines. “They have denied us access to
education and healthcare,” affirmed a man in black
trousers and a red shirt waving a flag of the same
colors.
 On
discovering our nationality, people asked after
Fidel and expressed their admiration for the Cuban
leader, whose presence was felt in the Plaza, in the
speech by the new Nicaraguan president and other
leaders who spoke, including Cuban Vice President
José Ramón Machado Ventura who, at Ortega’s
insistence, gave the crowd a message on behalf of
the leader of the Cuban Revolution.
Chávez also spoke to congratulate Daniel Ortega and
present him with a replica of Simon Bolívar’s sword.
The Bolivarian sent greetings to Fidel during a
speech that was brief but full of revolutionary
ardor.
Then
followed an emotional Evo Morales who continued with
his idea that Fidel is the Comandante of
Latin American liberation and affirmed that Bolivia
has joined Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua in the
fight against injustice.
Daniel Ortega removed the presidential sash and
declared before the sea of people that this symbol
belonged to the campesinos, workers, and the youth
and condemned the legacy of marginalization and
other social evils linked to neoliberalism.
Translated by Granma International |
