We interview Arnold August, international analyst, to provide his insight into the electoral process underway in Venezuela this Sunday May 25th, which would the first time the Guayana Esequiba region would participate on an election. teleSUR
00:00And Venezuela is going to the polls this Sunday in a mega election to choose governors and members of parliament.
00:06To keep analysing today's key elections for Venezuelans, let's go to our studios in Caracas, Venezuela,
00:13with our colleague Anna Marrero, who is joined by a very special guest, politician Arnold Agost.
00:18Hi, Anna.
00:19Hello, Alejandra, and hello to the audience, Annalise, and well, welcome to Telesur English, and welcome from the south.
00:34It's a pleasure.
00:35As a collaborator of Telesur, it's always a pleasure to collaborate, whether it's here in Caracas or Havana, or by writing articles for Telesur.
00:45Oh, that's so good.
00:46And it's really nice to have you here.
00:49Well, what can you tell us, what do you think about the 32nd elections being held in Venezuela during the 26 years?
00:59Well, you mentioned 32 elections. Actually, there's more.
01:02For example, today, it counts as one election, but in reality, there are two.
01:07One is for the National Assembly deputies, and the other is for governors and the legislative consulta in the level of the state.
01:19So it's really much more than 32.
01:20I think, without any doubt, Venezuela is the champion of elections and democracy.
01:27But nevertheless, the United States and their allies always try to demonize Venezuela, saying that it's not democratic.
01:35It's pretty ironic when you have so many elections.
01:38Yeah.
01:39And also, how do you describe the democracy that Venezuelans are demonstrating that exists in the country through the vote?
01:49Because, as you said, the right wing tries to demonize the government of Venezuela, saying that here is no democracy, but the people voting are showing that there is.
02:03What do you think about it?
02:04Well, actually, of course, I'm attending today.
02:07I went to the voting centers and saw how they voted.
02:12I did that previously for the presidential elections in July of last year.
02:18In July 28th.
02:19In July 28th of last year for the presidential.
02:21I saw the voting procedure there, and I saw it again today.
02:24So, once again, anyone who is in any way objective, they have to say, in my view, it's a fraud-free electoral system.
02:34It's not possible to carry out any fraud.
02:37Now, for me, it's not just the elections.
02:40Like yesterday, with the help of some friends, I visited two barrios, two neighborhoods.
02:45One is in Petari, which is the biggest neighborhood, the biggest barrio in Latin America in terms of population.
02:53It was very, very inspiring.
02:55I went there.
02:56I spoke to the people.
02:58And it's very clear from the point of view of the people that this is their revolution.
03:04You know, Venezuela, I mentioned this a long time during my first visit in Venezuela until he served with Ray Gomez, I think it was 2015, a long time ago.
03:15A long time ago.
03:16He asked me, what do you think, you're in Barrio 23, what is your opinion?
03:22I said the main thing then, and I say it now, what distinguishes the Venezuelan democracy from any other democracy around the world is its protagonist.
03:33That is, people see themselves as the author of their own revolution.
03:38And it's the same thing today.
03:39When I was there yesterday in that barrio, everyone I spoke to, irrespective of how they're going to vote, they say they want to vote in peace.
03:47And the United States cannot give lessons to anyone about a democracy and to carry out elections.
03:56The same thing, I went to the Barrio 23 de Janeiro.
03:59And, of course, there it's very militant.
04:02And they said the same thing.
04:03People want to vote in peace.
04:04People have confidence in the electoral system in Venezuela.
04:08They see it as part of an overall process that began in 1998 when Hugo Chavez was first elected.
04:15And it went through all of the major transformations, social, economic, health, etc.
04:20And so they're part of this whole dynamic.
04:23And, you know, for example, the way they participate in the communas, they're the ones who decide what are the projects which they're proposing.
04:33And once it's accepted by vote, then they get the funds from the central government to carry out these programs.
04:39So, you know, it may be strange for someone coming from the United States or Canada who has very preconceived notions against Venezuela.
04:48But Venezuela doesn't see this as part.
04:50This is their revolution.
04:51And it's up to them to do it, carry out the way they think it's best.
04:55Yeah, and also there are not only elections of governors here in Caracas or in the Miranda State or in Tachira,
05:07but also is being held elections of governor the first time in the Guayanese Kiva.
05:16Yeah.
05:16What can you tell us about it being the first time Venezuela is electing a governor there?
05:21Yeah, well, as far as the governor is concerned, of course, this is a very important test case.
05:27Let us hope that the Chavista governor wins there.
05:31It will be a ratification of the decision taken by the Venezuelan people in a sovereign way regarding that area that will be incorporated into the territory of Venezuela.
05:43I have a good feeling, even though I didn't visit it, I have a good feeling that this is how people vote for a governor
05:49that will follow in the footsteps of the referendum that took place to include that area into Venezuela.
05:57And, of course, there's also Miranda's also important.
06:00There's a Chavista governor now.
06:01Hopefully, the Chavista governor would be elected there.
06:06When I was there yesterday, it was very interesting.
06:08It's a very controversial neighborhood.
06:10It's very Chavista.
06:11The Chavista, at the same time, as you recall, during the elections, right after the elections on July 27th, the night of July 28th,
06:19there were disturbances, riots that took place, organized by the United States and their allies.
06:25And some of these disturbances took place from that area in Petati.
06:29So, hopefully, the Chavista trend will triumph over those who want to make trouble
06:35with regards to the results of the elections that are taking place today.
06:38Yeah, and also, the lessons, the lessons of these elections for not only Venezuelans
06:48or the extreme right for the world and the Latin America and the Caribbean,
06:52the lessons that Venezuela can give during these democratic processes being held today.
07:00Okay, let me just say one point.
07:01The United States or where I come from, Canada, their governments, they have no lessons, no moral authority
07:07to lecture Venezuela about elections and democracy.
07:12Like today, even before the election results are in, for example, I verified with the New York Times about two hours ago,
07:19they're already saying that the elections are fraud.
07:22And what do they give as they say?
07:24According to recognized international observers, they give the example.
07:29It's hidden in the article.
07:31You have to open it up to see.
07:33It's from the Carter Center.
07:34The Carter Center, previously, when Jimmy Carter was there, it did play a progressive role, a good role.
07:40They were objective.
07:41And he wrote, when they quote, when the New York Times quotes reliable sources,
07:48why don't they say that previously the Carter Center said, and that's written,
07:52that the most transparent, well-organized elections take place in Venezuela.
07:57Of course, a change took place, and someone who had very close ties with the CIA and USA has taken over the Carter Center.
08:05So they really don't have any moral authority to lecture Venezuela with regards to elections and the democratic process.
08:14But the government and the people are demonstrating and giving lessons to the world.
08:19Exactly. I think so.
08:21I mean, I'm prejudiced, but I think that Venezuela has lessons to give to all over the world with regards to elections and democracy.
08:29Well, thank you very much for being here with us today and teaching us more about this elections process
08:39and to analyze to the perspective of these elections and the Western perspective, too.
08:47Well, thank you very much.
08:49Thank you very much for having me.
08:50Thank you for being here.
08:53Well, like this, we are back to Alejandra in Havana, Cuba, to more information from the South.
