On the corner of Plaza Bolivar hot music plays loud in between a man who spruiks in favour of voting ‘yes’ in the referendum. Workers from the Alcaldia in red t-shirts sit under a red tent and walk around the main plaza handing out a 37 page document written by the CNE (National Electoral Commission) which has detailed information about all the changes to the constitution- about a page per proposed article change, with information about what it used to be and what the changes will be (if voted for of course). High school students, trendy youth, old men, working women rushing past on their lunch break stop to grab one and slow down to read it. The following translated document (their weird punctuation etc, not mine) is also being handed out:
PSUV….
Towards socialism of the 21st Century
10 reasons for yes…! To the constitutional reform
1. For a new geometry of power, through the autonomy of the people: through the communes, created by the organised communities, the communal councils, student councils, workers unions, etc (Art 16)
2. For a larger participation and sovereignty of all citizens, through the election of public positions, referendum, popular consultation, mandate of repeal, citizens’ assembly, where you exercise your sovereignty with your vote! (Art. 70)
3. For a better System of Social Security, where all the citizens: (taxi drivers, informal workers, artisans, hairdressers, farmers, domestic workers, etc) enjoy a Fund of Social Stability, that guarantees them retirement, dignified pension, holidays, rest and other workers’ benefits. (Art 87)
4. Because the Bolivarian and Revolutionary Government guarantees university autonomy! Don’t be fooled! By those who only want autonomy of their own personal interests and not of the interests of the students, lecturers and employees. (Art 109)
5. To guarantee your private, social and communal property, jointly, to use and enjoy and for better use of all the citizens, not like the fascists and capitalists falsely state, because they always wanted to have the land of our farmers, our economy, and petroleum industry in their power. (Art 115)
6. For a true decentralisation and transfer to the communities, of our public services, such as housing, sport, culture, social programs, environment, local protection, etc, that will give a greater amount of happiness to the collective. (Art 184)
7. In order that the reform, through the State, guarantees and promotes sustainable agriculture to guarantee good nutrition of the population, which for so many years the capitalists and bourgeoisie have tried to stop, so that we are dependent on other foreign powers, that they only look for destruction, poverty, and disintegration of our Latin American peoples. (Art 305)
8. For a strong National Army, truly patriotic, popular and anti-imperialist, based on the Bolivarian doctrine: “To take up the sword in defence of the Social Guarantees,” and not like it was used by the Oligarchy of the past, to repress the people! (Art 328)
9. The state of internal or external upheaval (state of Exception), NOT THREAT, your liberty and social guarantees, it protects you from any internal or external coup attempt, like what happened on 11 and 12 April 2002, where only thanks to the voice of the people the revolutionary victory was achieved! So that this never happens again! Vote yes to the Reform! (Art 337)
10. For the union struggles, the reduction of the working week, the missions, for a country more just, more revolutionary and more SOCIALIST….
Vote yes absolutely to the constitutional Reform!
“Country, Socialism, or Death, we will win!”
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