Discourse on Voting and Mutual Liberation: Interview with Robert Longa

In the throbbing, fighting heart of 23 de Enero barrio, Caracas, lies the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force and its thriving creation, the El Panal Commune. This project was set in motion before communes even became official jargon, born from grit, sweat, and grassroots organizing. Today, El Panal thrives with an economic system centered on social property. This interview with communal spokesperson and Alexis Vive founder, Robert Longa, sheds light on Venezuela's participatory democracy and the recent presidential elections that unfolded amidst imperialist and fascist aggression.

Before we delve into the elections, could you give us a glimpse of Venezuela's democratic project as you experience it?

The 20th century gave birth to insurgent movements across Latin America, a phenomenon theorized by Régis Debray as "foquismo," capturing the essence of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara's guerrilla tactics in the Sierra Maestra. But, the democratic experiment in Chile's Popular Unity government (1970-73) was brutally halted by Pinochet's fascist coup, backed by US imperialism. This left a bitter aftertaste: democracies wouldn't hold when outcome didn't align with interests!

Later, in 1992, Hugo Chávez and fellow red-beret-clad officers, descendants of 1989's popular insurrection, stormed onto the scene. By 1994, the EZLN issued its inspiring "First Declaration from the Lacandan Jungle" in Mexico. In the mid to late 90s, the Piquetero movement in Argentina and Indigenous resistance in Bolivia emerged powerfully.

These movements were protests against the neoliberal order, showing resistance was far from over. Latin America stood tall once more, movements gathering force but not quite ready to deliver a significant blow. Meanwhile, Chávez's election win in 1998 marked one of our early victories. A long process of accumulation followed, resulting in the rise of leaders such as Evo Morales, Nestor Kirchner, Rafael Correa, and Luiz Inácio "Lula" Da Silva.

The succession of these leaders was not a series of isolated events; instead, they were the political expressions of vibrant and robust social movements gradually gaining momentum across the continent. Furthermore, according to Venezuelan journalist Domingo Alberto Rangel, Madeleine Albright, Secretary of State in those early days, viewed the changes reshaping the continent as necessary revitalization for the system.

By the dawn of the 21st century, Chávez, swayed by Anthony Giddens' "Third Way," and the Bolivarian Revolution embarked on a rapid and profound radicalization. In 2001, Chávez introduced 49 Enabling Laws, a significant step towards nationalizing hydrocarbon resources and implementing radical land reform. By 2004, the Bolivarian Process had declared itself anti-imperialist, and by 2006, it had proclaimed its socialist identity.

All on a democratic foundation, within Venezuela's constitution, and ratified by regular elections. Despite imperialism's best efforts to overthrow Chávez, none of it deterred him. Each assault was met with a counterpunch by the left.

For the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force, Chávez symbolized in the early 21st century Latin America what Lenin represented for many revolutionary movements in 1917: an anti-imperialist leader reactivating the socialist project with force, strategy, and above all, the people.

Now, let's talk about the recent presidential elections that took place amidst imperialist and fascist aggression. Before we dive in, could you give us an overview of the elections?

On July 28, Venezuelans were called to exercise their democratic right and choose their leader amidst adversities. The National Electoral Council reported that Nicolás Maduro won 51% of the vote, over Edmundo González, the main opposition candidate backed by a powerful US imperialism. Despite the challenging landscape and allegations of irregularities, the elections were a testament to the strength and resilience of the Venezuelan people.

All these initiatives were promoted within the framework of Venezuela's constitution and were ratified by regular elections. But why did imperialism do everything it could to overthrow Chávez?

Every step toward Venezuelan sovereignty and substantive democracy was met with violence: a coup in 2002, the oil sabotage of 2002-2003, the Daktari Paramilitary Operation in 2004, and continual attempts to disrupt both the economy and the electoral processes. In other words, the moment US imperialism noticed the Bolivarian Revolution's commitment to sovereignty, it applied every strategy from its multiform warfare playbook, stopping just short of a military invasion.

Why was it crucial for Nicolás Maduro to win, and what is the foundation of Venezuela's participatory and protagonistic democracy?

Electoral processes are essential momentary victories, but the true foundation of Venezuela's democracy lies in its participatory and protagonistic nature. This means that the construction of popular power is key, and the communal assembly, which we in El Panal call the "patriotic assembly," is the highest democratic authority.

The process of building alliances and councils within each commune helps ensure that the people's voices are heard in decisions that affect them directly. In El Panal, the communal assembly focuses on matters such as resource management, decision-making, and even the establishment of communal enterprises, aligning with socialist principles of social property.

How does El Panal commune organize its community, both before and after the elections?

During the campaign, our organization held frequent meetings and organized assemblies to engage the community, define our goals, and strategize our approach. We also established an operations center that monitored media and social media trends while mapping the commune's territory in terms of strengths and weaknesses.

After the elections, we focused on assisting in the post-electoral process, steadfast in our duty to defend the revolution. Historical moments like these demand strategic thinking and preparedness. The electoral and post-electoral period is a crucial moment for organizations like the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force as we plan and execute tactics to strengthen our position and move closer to emancipation.

What role does El Panal Commune play within Venezuela's strategies for building a participatory and protagonistic democracy, and what's next for this self-governing body?

El Panal Commune is deeply rooted in Venezuela's grassroots movements, dedicated to the decentralization of political power and the promotion of direct, participatory democracy. Ideally, Venezuelan communes should operate as self-governing bodies, managing local resources, infrastructure, and production, while fostering community-led governance and scaled collaboration across regions.

For the Alexis Vive Patriotic Force, the commune represents both a model and the essence of Venezuela's revolution, being integral to the Bolivarian vision for full emancipation. Our goal is to lead by example in our commitment to the communal model and support the metamorphosis of existing social relations, ensuring the Bolivarian Revolution maintains its direction and 21st-century socialism a distinctive identity.

NOTE

El Panal Commune is a specific example of Venezuela's grassroots organization mandated to decentralize political power, promote participatory democracy, and lead community development. They operate on the principles of assembly-based governance, resource management, collective ownership, and scalability, working together to make informed decisions, manage resources, establish communal enterprises, and create more connected communities.

The Alexis Vive Patriotic Force and El Panal Commune, rooted in grit, sweat, and grassroots organizing, represent a promising democratic project in Venezuela, embodying the essence of participatory and protagonistic democracy.
Under El Panal Commune's economic system, centered on social property, the commune serves as a model and embodiment of Venezuela's revolutionary vision, working towards full emancipation.
El Panal Commune plays a crucial role in Venezuela's strategies for building a participatory and protagonistic democracy, fostering community-led governance, managing local resources, and promoting scalability across regions.
As imperialist and fascist aggression looms over Venezuela, El Panal Commune remains resilient, organizing before and after elections, monitoring media and social trends, and defending the revolution to strengthen their position and move closer to emancipation.