“It is the same script of the coup d’état in Bolivia.”
Former Bolivian President Evo Morales
By Richard Irons
Bolivia’s former President Evo Morales knows better than most how – in Latin America – right-wing, US-backed coups have developed to a similar pattern in recent years.
In 2019, with initial and official electoral declarations – later proven to be fully correct – indicating he had been re-elected, the US-backed opposition in Bolivia mobilised domestically and internationally to question the outcome, with much of the international media repeating their lines unquestionably.
Morales was then ousted from power through a coup, and an ‘interim’ far-right and unelected regime put in place, which was then recognised by the US. In just a short-time in power, the coup-regime caused great social and economic damage – in addition to massive, deadly repression of its trade union, left and social movements.
This week, the US and allies are doing everything they can to paint current developments in Venezuela as an “election steal” by incumbent President Nicolas Maduro, following almost exactly the blueprint as against Morales. And just as in Bolivia, this rhetoric and the violence that followed it is seen by the incumbent and his allies as an attempt to force through a ‘regime change’ coup.
Evo Morales is a widely respected figure on the international left, and many will be struck by this comparison – and keen therefore to know his thoughts on developments in Venezuela.
Posting on X about the post-election situation in Venezuela Evo said,
“Respect for the sovereignty of States is an elementary principle of coexistence. It is everyone’s duty to respect the decisions of the referee of the Venezuelan elections, in this case, the National Electoral Council (CNE.) It is that institution, without interference, that has already published the electoral result. The international right tries to question that to generate violence.
Crucially he added, “It is the same script of the coup d’état in Bolivia.”
Importantly, whilst the current political divisions between Morales and the current elected Bolivian President Luis Arce – whose 2020 victory overturned the coup – are well known, Arce has a similar position on Venezuela to Morales. His was one of the first Governments to recognise Sunday’s results announced by the CNE, saying that “we welcome that the will of the Venezuelan people has been respected at the polls.”
One of the main ways sections of international opinion was whipped up to justify support for Morales being removed was the statements of the US-dominated Organisation of American States (OAS). As the well-respected US-based CEPR thinktank put it in a later detailed report, “The OAS allegations were indeed the main political foundation of the coup that followed the October 20 election three weeks later. And they continued for many months following the coup.”
OAS statements on Venezuela today are eerily similar to those later discredited claims about Bolivia – and are again being cited by the US and allies, who are also once again being just as open in seeking ‘regime change’ ends.
This recent example of Bolivia’s coup and the role of the OAS may be what lies behind the President of Mexico Andrés Manuel López Obrador taking on the role of the OAS on Venezuela this week, saying “What business is it of the OAS? Why do they have to meddle? That is interference. That’s why the OAS doesn’t have any credibility. Under what basis does the OAS claim that the other candidate won?”
In addition to Bolivia, another country which knows what a US-backed, far-right, neo-liberal coup looks like is Honduras, which suffered horrendously after the 2009 coup – and didn’t then restore a progressive President until 2021.
Their elected President Xiomara Castro was – like Arce – quick to recognise the CNE-announced results, congratulating the incumbent on his “victory that reaffirms Venezuela’s sovereignty.”
Also circulating widely in Latin American Left circles is a statement from a range of massive social movements in Brazil, who also know from experience what life under a far-right, US backed regime looks like.
In it they say, “In the midst of a fascist campaign promoted by the Venezuelan and international extreme right, which even before the vote and the results were already out loud fraud and non-respect for the results, the sovereignty of the Venezuelan people and their right to vote prevail.”
They add, “We repudiate any attempt at foreign intervention and internal destabilization through violence, fake news and manipulation. We respect and defend democracy, truth and the sovereign Venezuelan people.”
The statement was signed by eleven movements representing millions of people, including the world’s largest social movement, Brazil’s Landless Workers’ Movement (the MST), plus the massive Central dos Trabalhadores do Brasil trade union centre, representing over 900 union, and the youth wing of the governing Workers’ Party (PT.)
Separately, the PT National Executive issued the following statement, which reads in full:
“The PT salutes the Venezuelan people for the electoral process that took place on Sunday, July 28, 2024, in a peaceful, democratic and sovereign journey.
We are sure that the National Electoral Council, which indicated President Nicolás Maduro’s victory, will treat all resources it receives respectfully, within the deadlines and under the terms provided for in the Constitution of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.
It is important that President Nicolás Maduro, now re-elected, continues dialogue with the opposition, in order to overcome Venezuela’s serious problems, largely caused by illegal sanctions.
The PT will remain vigilant to contribute, to the extent of its strength, so that the problems of Latin America and the Caribbean are addressed by the people of our region, without any type of violence or external interference.”
Alicia Castro – prominent opponent of the far-right in Argentina – meanwhile said on the role of the pro-US right-wing opposition in Venezuela, that “they will create another (GG) Coup Group like that Lima Group: they will continue to receive advice and financing from the United States and perhaps they will even set up a Fake president like Juan Guaidó. But they will not defeat the Venezuelan people, who, really, do not want to be a colony.”
As the situation with regards to Venezuela develops, these insights from Bolivia, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina and Honduras are surely worth the Left in Britain and globally noting.
Also important is the need to seriously question any statements from the US – and its far-right allies in Latin America such as Milei in Argentina and the coup-regime in Peru – when their interests in ‘regime change’ are so obvious.
One significant left force in Europe that seems to be doing just this is Podemos in Spain, whose leader – and former Government Minister – Ione Belarra said, “More than a thousand international observers have participated in the Venezuelan elections. The people have spoken and their will must be respected. The right only goes with democracy when it wins and that is unacceptable.”
- You can read the Venezuela Solidarity Campaign’s statement on the UK and US refusal to recognise the election results here.
- You can hear an account of the far-right anti-democratic violence from election observer Calvin Tucker here.
It is important that The Guardian is challenged for its scurrilous misinformation that is presented to the public as a progressive voice of reason when in fact it is really acting as a propaganda foghorn for the establishment and the reactionary forces they are supporting in Venezuela. A lot of liberal leaning people who consider themselves progressive take what The Guardian says as accurate and objective reporting. The way The Guardian manipulates public discourse with misleading narratives needs to be exposed and condemned as fake news.